title: Impact of patient follow-up on weight loss after bariatric surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative follow-up after bariatric surgery is important. Because of the need for adjustments, follow-up after gastric banding may have a greater impact on weight loss than after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. We reviewed all patients at 1 year after these two operations.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the first year after surgery, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) patients were followed every 4 weeks and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) patients were followed at 3 weeks postoperatively and then every 3 months. The number of follow-up visits for each patient was calculated, and 50% compliance for follow-up and weight loss was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between October 2000 and September 2002, 216 LAGB and 139 RYGBP operations were performed. Of these patients, 186 LAGB patients and 115 RYGBP patients were available for 1-year follow-up. Age and BMI were similar for each group. Overall excess weight loss (EWL) after LAGB was 44.5%. 130 (70%) returned 6 or less times in the first year and achieved 42% EWL. 56 patients (30%) returned more than 6 times and had 50% EWL (P=0.005). Overall %EWL after RYGBP was 66.1%. 53 patients (46%) returned 3 or less times in the first year, achieving 66.1% EWL. 62 patients (54%) returned more than 3 times after surgery and achieved 67.6% EWL (P=NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient follow-up plays a significant role in the amount of weight lost after LAGB, but not after RYGBP. Patient motivation and surgeon commitment for long-term follow-up is critical for successful weight loss after LAGB surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dugay
authors.forename: Kavitha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rajaram
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: Niccole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: Christine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D015391:Gastroplasty; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss