We are pleased to announce the publication of a major review of the gastric band in the prestigious World Journal of Surgery.
The paper was written by Healthier Weight Medical Director, Dr David Ashton, Professor Franco Favretti, Surgical Director and Dr Gianni Segato.
In this paper, the authors describe the development of the gastric band, the long-term results from key studies and the future role of the band in the surgical treatment of obesity. This publication represents a landmark in the scientific literature.
The Gastric Band: First Choice Procedure for Obesity Surgery (summary)
The development of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) during the latter part of the 20th Century represents a watershed in the management of chronic obesity. Previously, treatment options for obese patients comprised dietary, pharmacological and/or cognitive interventions with generally poor results, or major surgical procedures such as gastric bypass which, whilst effective, were associated with important complications. The advent of LAGB offers an effective, durable and safe alternative which has revolutionized the treatment of obesity throughout the developed world.
Optimal outcomes after LAGB are a function of correct surgical technique, an experienced surgical team, a well-engineered device and intensive long-term follow-up. The majority of studies show that LAGB is an extremely safe and effective procedure with an operative mortality of 0-0.1% and excess weight loss (%EWL) of 50-60%. This level of safety has been consistently demonstrated and makes LAGB by far the safest of all the available surgical weight loss options. Along with this degree of weight loss, almost all studies show substantial improvements in diseases commonly associated with being overweight; type II diabetes, hypertension, sleeping patterns, mobility, depression and self-esteem.
Gastric banding has been shown to be very safe in the super-obese, in adolescents and in older patients. Operative risks are significantly higher for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) and, whilst bypass results in greater weight loss than LAGB at 2 years, at 3 years and beyond there is little difference. Overall, LAGB provides a safe, effective intervention for all grades of obesity and remains our first choice procedure for obesity surgery.
Favretti F, Ashton D, Busetto L, Segato G, De Luca M. The Gastric Band: First Choice Procedure for Obesity Surgery. World J Surg 2009; [Epub ahead of print].
Read the full text
