Introduction: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is considered to be the least invasive, reversible, and the safest bariatric operation regarding mortality and morbidity, and its application to high-risk superobese (SO) individuals seems rational.
Aim: There are differing viewpoints regarding the effectiveness of LAGB in superobese (BMI > 50 kg/m2) patients. The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of LAGB in SO and non-superobese (NSO) patients in the long term (> 5 years).
Material and methods: We undertook a prospective single-center study to compare the safety and efficacy of LAGB in SO and NSO patients after 5 years. One hundred and three morbidly obese patients underwent LAGB in the period from January 2009 to January 2010. Sixty-four of the patients were NSO and 39 SO. After 5 years, we evaluated their weight loss, comorbidities, complications, and quality of life.
Results: A total of 90 of 103 patients (87.3%) completed the 5-year follow-up. The percentage excess weight loss was 50.4% in the NSO and 38.8% in the SO group (p = 0.072). The proportion of patients who lost > 50% excess weight was significantly larger in the NSO group (p = 0.045). There were significantly more patients in the NSO group whose metabolic syndrome had resolved (p < 0.001). There were no differences regarding the resolution of other comorbidities and postoperative complications.
Conclusions: This study suggests that LAGB can lead to substantial and long-lasting weight loss after 5 years. Our study found that SO patients demonstrate inferior weight loss results, and lower overall BAROS scores; thus we do not support the primary use of LAGB in SO patients.
Keywords: bariatric surgery; laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding; super-obesity.