title: Weight loss and improvement of obesity-related illness following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedure for morbidly obese patients in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is a newly developed minimally invasive surgical procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity. This study was conducted to evaluate body weight loss, surgical complications, and comorbidities after LAGB surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-one morbidly obese patients (mean age, 31.2 years; mean preoperative weight, 120.8 kg) underwent LAGB in a private Taiwan hospital setting within a comprehensive multidisciplinary bariatric program. Patients were followed up to 36 months. Comorbidities were assessed in 55 patients who completed more than 12 months of follow-up by comparing each comorbid condition before surgery and during follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All procedures were performed laparoscopically with no conversion. Mean operation time was 88.7 +/- 32.9 minutes. There were no intraoperative or major postoperative complications. Minor complication of stoma stenos is occurred in three (3.3%) patients. At 36 months after surgery, mean body mass index had decreased from 42.7 to 33.9 kg/m2, and mean percentage of excess weight loss was 44.8%. Late complications were as follows: intractable vomiting requiring band removal in one (1.1%) patient, tubing problems requiring revision surgery in four (4.3%), and stoma obstruction in two (2.1%). There was no mortality. Resolution or improvement of comorbidities was significant for hyperglycemia and diabetes-related index, dyslipidemia, abnormal liver function, hyperuricemia, sleep apnea, and arthralgia, but not for hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LAGB provides good weight loss and significant reduction in comorbidities with few minor complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Taoyuan Min-Sheng General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Jei
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Weu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Po-Li
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Ming-Te
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery*; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss