Impact of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding on obesity co-morbidities in the medium- and long-term.
BACKGROUND
The authors evaluated the impact of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) on obesity-associated diseases in a series at 3 to 8 years postoperatively, namely diabetes, pulmonary disease, hypertension and knee joint pain.


METHODS
145 morbidly obese patients underwent LAGB with mean age 38 years and preoperative BMI 48.5 kg/m2 (range 34-77). Changes in BMI and excess BMI loss (EBL) were evaluated.


RESULTS
138 of the 145 patients (95%) were available for full follow-up. At last follow-up, BMI had dropped to 34.0 +/- 6.4 SD kg/m2, and mean EBL was 61.9 +/- 26.1%. Prevalence of obesity-associated disease was significantly reduced: diabetes decreased from 10% to 4%, treatment-requiring pulmonary disease from 15% to 5%, hypertension from 43% to 27%, and knee pain from 47% to 38%.


CONCLUSIONS
Following gastric banding, >75% of patients suffering from obesity-related disease had significant decrease or resolution of their co-morbidities.
Korenkov
M
M
Department of Surgery, University of Mainz, Germany. korenkov@ach.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Shah
S
S
Sauerland
S
S
Duenschede
F
F
Junginger
Th
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015391:Gastroplasty; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010845:Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors