title: The effectiveness of adjustable gastric banding: a retrospective 6-year U.S. follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to assess the efficacy of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) during a 6-year follow-up period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective database analysis of patients who underwent LAGB at New York University Medical Center between 1 January 2000 and 29 February 2008 was conducted. Patients were included for the efficacy analysis if they were 18 years old or older at the surgery date and had one or more visits with a recorded weight after surgery. Efficacy was assessed using percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) at 1-year intervals after surgery. Missing weight values were interpolated using a cubic spline function. Linear regression models were used to assess the characteristics that affected the last available %EWL. All patients had implantation of the LAP-BAND system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The inclusion criteria for the efficacy analysis were met by 2,909 patients. The majority of the patients were white (83.3%) and female (68.4%). The mean patient age was 44.6 years, and the mean baseline body mass index (BMI) was 45.3 kg/m2. The %EWL 3 years after surgery was 52.9%, which was sustained thereafter. In multivariate models, increased number of office visits, younger age, female gender, and Caucasian race were significantly associated with a higher maximum %EWL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The LAP-BAND patients achieved a substantial and sustainable weight loss of approximately 50% at 6 years after surgery.
authors.affiliation: New York University Medical Center, 560 First Avenue, New York, NY, USA. weichmank@gmail.com
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weichman
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurian
authors.forename: Allison Youn
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Heekoung
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casciano
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fielding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D015431:Weight Loss