LAGB Versus VBG: 7-Year Results

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding Versus Open Vertical Banded Gastroplasty: 7-Year Results of a Prospective Randomized Trial

The study aims to investigate the long term results of a randomized clinical single-centre trial comparing two standard operative techniques in bariatric surgery; laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and vertical banded gastroplasty.

One hundred morbidly obese patients were included in the study. Randomization between the two operative techniques was performed using a computer model. Fifty patients were included in both groups. Weight loss, obesity-related comorbidity, long term complications, re-operations and conversions were all prospectively investigated for a mean period of 84 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• BMI of > 40 kg/m2 or > 35 kg/m2 with obesity-related comorbidities
• Failure to achieve sustainable weight loss with proven conservative measures

Exclusion Criteria:

• severe psychiatric and / or eating disorders
• unable to keep to a prescribed postoperative diet
• < 18 or > 60 years
• not eligible to bariatric surgery according to a member of the multidisciplinary team (psychologist, dietician, nurse practitioner, general practitioner and surgeon)