title: [Bariatric surgery with an adjustable gastric band; long-term follow-up of the first 30 patients in the Netherlands].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of the long-term results of bariatric surgery with an adjustable gastric band for the treatment of morbid obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, descriptive.
  
  
  METHODS
  From September 1991-September 1993, 30 patients (6 males, 24 females) received an adjustable gastric band because of morbid obesity, being the first group in the Netherlands. The long-term data on these patients: weight loss, band adjustments, complications, reoperations and patient satisfaction, were collected using a medical record survey and a questionnaire and then analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the operation, the mean BMI was 42.5 kg/m2 (SD: 5.7) and the mean excess body weight was 50.8 kg (SD: 16.7). The mean follow-up time for all patients was 15.3 years (SD: 5.4) and for the responders to the questionnaire, 17.7 years (SD: 0.7); three patients died during follow-up. After surgery, the mean BMI was reduced to 34.7 kg/m2 (SD: 6.4). The mean excess body weight loss of the entire group was 38.1% (SD: 67.8) and of the patients who still had a gastric band in situ, 27.9% (SD: 67.4). In 15 patients, the gastric band reservoir was replaced at least once. The gastric band was replaced in 18 patients due to complications and eventually permanently removed in 6 patients. Of the respondents, 62% were satisfied with the weight loss and 52% were satisfied with regard to possible side effects and complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment of morbid obesity with an adjustable gastric band in this very first group of patients has resulted in substantial weight loss, but also a high rate of complications and reoperations. Treatment of these kinds of complications is an important aspect of bariatric surgery today. The efficacy of gastric banding is therefore currently under debate.
authors.affiliation: Rode Kruis Ziekenhuis, afd. Algemene heelkunde, Beverwijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buijsman
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tenhagen
authors.forename: Michiel A J M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hunfeld
authors.forename: Wim E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Tuinebreijer
authors.forename: Huib A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Cense
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult