Study aim: Developments have recently been made in bariatric surgery outside the USA. The aim of this retrospective non-randomized study was to report on our experience regarding biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) and non-adjustable gastric banding (GB) in a population of 235 obese patients.
Patients and methods: From March 1990 to March 1998, 235 obese patients were operated on, 142 by BDP and 93 by GB, via laparotomy after rigourous selection of the patient population.
Results: The mean duration of surgery was 2 h 50 minutes for BPD and 1 h for GB. One postoperative death occurred due to massive pulmonary embolism. Early major complications were frequent in the BPD group (n = 21) but rare in the GB group (n = 1). Mean duration of hospitalization was 16 days in the BPD group versus 9 days in the GB group. Mean percentage excess weight loss was 48% for the GB group and 60% for the BPD group after two years. Late mortality was limited to the BPD group (3.5%). Late complications were evenly distributed between the two groups, with a prevalence of malnutrition in the BPD group and outlet stenosis in the GB group. A high incidence of band removal was recorded related to this complication (17.2%). Incisional hernias were present in both groups.
Conclusions: GB and BPD are techniques which can induce weight loss and bring about subsequent health benefits. Nevertheless, in a few patients further intervention or adaptation of the approach due to clinical failure or to a high complication rate is required. Additional research is needed regarding determination of the surgical treatment that is best adapted to the case in question, i.e., taking into consideration both the restrictive and malabsorbative aspects.