Vertical banded gastroplasty: 6 years experience at a center in Poland

Obes Surg. 2005 Feb;15(2):223-7. doi: 10.1381/0960892053268390.

Abstract

Background: Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) has been performed in our department as a restrictive operation for treatment of morbid obesity. We assessed efficacy, safety, and quality of life (QoL) after VBG, based on our 6-year experience.

Methods: 101 patients with >1 year follow-up who underwent VBG between January 1998 and May 2003, were retrospectively studied. Mean age was 41 years, and mean preoperative BMI was 51.3 kg/m2. Almost 60% of the patients suffered from hypertension, and 25% were diabetic. Postoperative QoL was determined with the BAROS questionnaire. Data concerning weight loss and co-morbidities were collected during the postoperative visits.

Results: 87.2% of patients achieved > or = 50% EWL. 86 patients (85.2%) responded to the BAROS questionnaire. >90% of the patients analyzed according to BAROS, reported improvement in QoL after VBG. No patient reported deterioration in health or well-being after the VBG. Anti-hypertensive medication was discontinued in 26 patients (56.5%) and decreased in the other 15 hypertensive patients (32.6%). 35% of diabetic patients did not require further treatment, while a further 40% had their insulin doses decreased or were switched to oral drugs. Early complications occurred in 4.65%, and consisted of an evisceration, pulmonary embolus and gastric leak. Late complications occurred in 20.9%, and included bleeding from peptic ulcer, incisional hernia, stomal stenosis and staple-line disruption (3.5%). There have been no deaths.

Conclusion: VBG provided significant weight reduction and improved QoL in the vast majority of morbidly obese patients. Patients with diabetes and hypertension benefitted because these co-morbidities were improved or disappeared with the weight loss.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Gastroplasty / adverse effects
  • Gastroplasty / methods*
  • Gastroplasty / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity, Morbid / diagnosis
  • Obesity, Morbid / epidemiology
  • Obesity, Morbid / surgery*
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Poland / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Quality of Life*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Weight Loss / physiology*