title: LAGB: regular follow-up with an interdisciplinary team is the key to success in terms of weight loss and complications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In severe obesity, most patients do not respond to conventional treatment. Bariatric surgery must only be proposed in specific cases. LAGB gives excellent long-term results if patient scrupulously complies the follow-up.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate patients who comply with the follow-up procedure over time in terms of weight loss, maintenance of the result, complications and quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  209 patients underwent LAGB between October 1999 and December 2007 and followed for 5 years. all patients were offered interdisciplinary counseling to update the therapeutic strategy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 92 patients who after two years had reached the desired weight 58 patients (63%) had a regular follow- up and, when necessary, specific counseling. 34 patients (37%) who did not plan follow-up did not maintain the weight loss, and progressively put on weight between the second and fifth year and had a higher incidence of complications. (SF-36) established in patients regularly followed improvement of the quality of life (QoL), up to the fifth year. Short Form Health Survey patients who did not regularly have follow-up the SF-36 showed a worsening of all the test domains between the second and the fifth year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After 5 years, patients with severe obesity (BMI> 40) who underwent LAGB, that took part in a interdisciplinary follow-up procedure, obtained a full rehabilitation with a change of lifestyle, and maintained the weight loss obtained after 24 months. The perceived quality of life (QoL) shows a progressive improvement throughout the period of intensive intervention. Long-term efficacy of LAGB depends on a scrupulous followup and interdisciplinary support.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  LAGB, Obesity, Psychotherapy, SF-36.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taus
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fumelli
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Busni
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicolai
authors.forename: Albano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss