title: High failure rate of the laparoscopic-adjustable gastric band as a primary bariatric procedure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Determinants of success of a bariatric procedure are many but paramount is the ability to durably produce significant and reliable weight loss. We sought to determine the primary success of the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) by defining failure as clinical weight loss failure with an intact band (excess weight loss [EWL]<20%) or band removal (terminal removal or conversion to a secondary bariatric procedure).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent an LAGB as a primary bariatric procedure between January 2003 and December 2007. Data collected included body mass index (BMI), weight, postoperative follow-up length, EWL, and adjustment number, as well as complications of the LAGB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen of 120 patients had the band removed. Nine were terminally removed for unmanageable symptoms, and 7 were converted to an alternative bariatric procedure. The average follow-up for the 104 patients with an intact band was 4.8 years. The average EWL for successful intact bands was 44.9±19.4%; however, an additional 35.6% of patients had an EWL<20%. Patients with an EWL<20% had a significantly higher preoperative BMI and fewer band adjustments. In total, 44% of patients had band failure because of clinical weight loss failure (31%) or eventual band removal (13%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study finds that the LAGB failed as a primary bariatric procedure for 44% of patients because of either inadequate weight loss or adequate weight loss with unmanageable symptoms. This suggests that the LAGB should be abandoned as a primary bariatric procedure for the majority of morbidly obese patients because of its high failure rate.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Division of General Surgery, Omaha, Nebraska. Electronic address: tammy_venema@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kindel
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Department of Surgery, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Department of Surgery, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hungness
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Department of Surgery, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Band failure; Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band; Weight loss failure