title: Six months of balloon treatment does not predict the success of gastric banding.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We studied whether weight loss by intragastric balloon would predict the outcome of subsequent gastric banding with regard to weight loss and BMI reduction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort of patients with a body mass index (BMI)>40 kg/m(2) received an intragastric balloon for 6 months followed by laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). Successful balloon-induced weight loss was defined as > or =10% weight loss after 6 months. Successful surgical weight loss was defined as an additional 15% weight loss in the following 12 months. Patients were divided in group A, losing > or =10% of their initial weight with 6 months' balloon treatment, and group B, losing <10% of their initial weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 40 patients (32 female, 8 male; age 36.6 yr, range 26-54), the mean BMI decreased from 46.5 to 40.5 kg/m(2) (P<0.001) after 6 months of balloon treatment and to 35.2 kg/m(2) (P<0.001) 12 months after LAGB. Group A (25 patients) and group B (15 patients) had a significant difference in BMI decrease, 12.4 vs 9.0 kg/m(2) (P<0.05), after the total study duration of 18 months. However, there was no difference in BMI reduction (4.7 kg/m(2) vs 5.8 kg/m(2)) in the 12 months after LAGB. 6 patients in group A lost > or =10% of their starting weight during 6 months balloon treatment as well as > or =15% 12 months following LAGB. 6 patients in group B lost <10% of their starting weight after 6 months of BIB, but also lost > or =15% 12 months following LAGB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intragastric balloon did not predict the success of subsequent LAGB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.vandermeij@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Suzan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Goederen-van der Meij
authors.forename: Robert G J M
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Pierik
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oudkerk Pool
authors.forename: Dirk J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gouma
authors.forename: Lisbeth M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Mathus-Vliegen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015905:Gastric Balloon; D015391:Gastroplasty; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss