Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND: Evidence of the positive effects of gastric banding on patients with diabetes has continued to increase. The long-term follow-up of such patients, however, has been limited. The purpose of the present study was to provide the long-term outcomes of patients with diabetes undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding at our institution. METHODS: From January 2002 through June 2004, 102 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. The study parameters included preoperative age, gender, race, body mass index, duration of diabetes before surgery, fasting glucose level, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and medications used. Preoperative data from all patients were collected prospectively and entered into an institutional review board-approved database. Beginning in 2008, efforts were made to collect the 5-year follow-up data. RESULTS: Of the 102 patients, 7 were excluded because they had not reached the 5-year follow-up point (2 patients had had the band removed early and 5 patients had died; 2 of cancer and 3 of unknown causes), leaving 95 patients for the present study. The mean preoperative age was 49.3 years (range 21.3-68.4). The mean preoperative body mass index was 46.3 kg/m(2) (range 35.1-71.9) and had decreased to 35.0 kg/m(2) (range 21.1-53.7) by 5 years of follow-up, yielding a mean percentage of excess weight loss of 48.3%. The mean duration of the diabetes diagnosis before surgery was 6.5 years. Of 94 patients, 83 (88.3%) were taking medications preoperatively, with 14.9% overall taking insulin. At 5 years postoperatively, 33 (46.5%) of 71 patients were taking medications, with 8.5% taking insulin. The mean fasting preoperative glucose level was 146.0 mg/dL. The glucose level had decreased to 118.5 mg/dL at 5 years postoperatively (P = .004). The mean HbA1c level was 7.53 preoperatively in 72 patients and was 6.58 at 5 years postoperatively in 64 patients (P <.001). Overall, diabetes had resolved (no medication requirement, with HbA1c <6 and/or glucose <100 mg/dL) in 23 (39.7%) of 58 patients and had improved (use of fewer medications and/or fasting glucose levels of 100-125 mg/dL) in 41 (71.9%) of 57 patients. The combined improvement/remission rate was 80% (64 of 80 patients). CONCLUSION: Our data have demonstrated that laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding results in a substantial sustained positive effect on diabetes in morbidly obese patients, with a significant reduction in HbA1c and an 80% overall rate of improvement/remission

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) has become one of the most common weight-loss procedures performed in the United States. The authors' high-volume academic medical center has gathered a database of almost 3,000 patients who have undergone LAGB since January 2001. The goal of this series, the largest to date on LAGB outcomes at a single institution, was to assess complications associated with LAGB. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed using longitudinal data from adult patients who underwent LAGB between 1 January 2001, and 29 February 2008. General and band-related complications were reported for all patients. Death and reoperation for weight gain (LAGB followed by either a second band insertion or a gastric bypass) also were reported. RESULTS: Of the 2,965 patients who received LAGB during the study period, 2,909 met the criteria for inclusion in this analysis, and 363 (12.2%) experienced one or more complications. The most common complications were band slip (4.5%) and port-related problems (3.3%). Other complications were rare. Only seven patients (0.2%) had band erosion. Eleven patients (0.4%) underwent reoperation for weight gain. A total of 10 deaths (0.34%) occurred during the study period. Three patients died within 30 days of surgery. Two of these deaths (0.06%) were related to surgery, and one resulted from a motor vehicle accident. Seven patients died of causes unrelated to surgery during the course of the study. CONCLUSIONS: The LAGB technique is a relatively safe procedure with few early or late complications. Few LAGB patients undergo reoperation for weight gain, and mortality is very rare

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic gastric banding has several known complications, including gastric erosion. No clear factors have been determined for the development of band erosion, but technical factors such as covering the buckle of the band have been implicated. The objective of the present study was to determine whether band management after surgery, band size, or filling beyond the manufacturer-determined maximal volume has an effect on the incidence of erosion at a university hospital in the United States. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of a prospective institutional review board-approved database. All patients who had been followed from 2002 to 2008 were identified. The maximal band volume was 4 cm(3) for the 9.75-cm/10-cm band and 10 cm(3) for the Vanguard band. The bands were considered overfilled if they had been filled to greater than the maximal volume for >/=3 months. RESULTS: A total of 2437 patients had undergone Lap-Band surgery. Of these 2437 patients, 14 developed erosion (.57%). The primary erosion rate was .39% (9 of 2359). These patients were divided into 3 groups according to the type of band placed: group 1, Vanguard (n = 735); group 2, 9.75-cm/10-cm band (n = 1624); and group 3, revisions to Vanguard, including a band placed around a bypass (n = 78). The incidence of gastric erosion by group was .95% (7 of 735) in group 1, .12% (2 of 1624) in group 2, and 6.41% (5 of 78) in group 3. The difference in the erosion rate among the groups was significant (group 1 versus 2, P = .005; group 3 versus 1, P = .003; and group 3 versus 2, P = .001). Erosions developed in each group without overfilling. Also, comparing the erosion rate in the overfilled versus underfilled bands, statistical significance was found only for group 1 at 3.18% versus .35% (P = .006). The erosion rate in the overfilled versus underfilled was 1.01% versus .07% in group 2 and 11.11% versus 3.92% in group 3. CONCLUSION: A band that needs to be overfilled might be a sign of erosion, and patients should undergo endoscopy. Band revision has a greater rate of erosion than primary banding. The Vanguard band has a greater risk of erosion than the 4-cm(3) bands

BACKGROUND: Many mildly to moderately obese individuals with a body mass index (BMI) lower than 35 kg/m(2) have serious diseases related to their obesity. Nonsurgical therapy is ineffective in the long term, yet surgery has never been made widely available to this population. METHODS: Between 2002 and 2007, 53 patients with a BMI lower than 35 kg/m(2) underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding at our institution. Data on all these patients were collected prospectively and entered into an institutional review board-approved electronic registry. The study parameters included preoperative age, gender, BMI, presence of comorbidities, percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL), and resolution of comorbidities. RESULTS: The mean preoperative age of the patients was 46.9 years (range, 16-68 years), and the mean preoperative BMI was 33.1 kg/m(2) (range, 28.2-35.0 kg/m(2)). Of the 53 patients, 49 (92%) had at least one obesity-related comorbidity. The mean BMI decreased to 28.1 +/- 2.4 kg/m(2), 25.8 +/- 2.9 kg/m(2), and 25.8 +/- 3.1 kg/m(2) and mean %EWL was 48.3 +/- 17.6, 69.9 +/- 28.0, and 69.7 +/- 31.7 at 0.5, 1, and 2 years, respectively. Substantial improvement occurred for the following comorbidities evaluated: hypertension, depression, diabetes, asthma, hypertriglyceridemia, obstructive sleep apnea, hypercholesterolemia, and osteoarthritis. There was one slip, two cases of band obstruction (from food), two cases of esophagitis, and two port leaks, but no mortality. CONCLUSION: The authors are very encouraged by this series of low-BMI patients who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Their weight loss has been excellent, and their complications have been acceptable. Their comorbidities have partially or wholly resolved. With further study, it is reasonable to expect alteration of the weight guidelines for bariatric surgery to include patients with a BMI lower than 35 kg/m(2)

BACKGROUND: The distribution of weight loss and its impact on metabolic health has not been documented for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) in the adolescent population. We hypothesized that LAGB in obese adolescents would result in loss of android fat mass, resolution of comorbidities, and improvement in metabolic status. STUDY DESIGN: Adolescents ages 14 to 17 who met criteria for bariatric surgery were enrolled in our FDA-approved LAGB trial. Demographic data, body mass index, body composition and bone density, laboratory evaluations, and comorbid conditions were assessed pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: Forty-five patients had complete 1-year followup and 41 patients had complete 2-year followup. Mean preoperative weight was 299 + or - 57 lb and body mass index was 48 + or - 6.4 kg/m(2). The percent excess weight losses at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years were 31 + or - 16, 46 + or - 21, and 47 + or - 22, respectively. At 1-year followup, patients after LAGB had a significant decrease in their total and android fat mass. In addition, 47 of 85 identified comorbidities (55%) were completely resolved and 25 (29%) were improved in comparison with baseline. Improvements in alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, hemoglobin A1c, fasting insulin, triglycerides, and high density lipoprotein, were also seen. CONCLUSIONS: The percent excess weight loss after LAGB in morbidly obese adolescents is approximately 45% at 1- and 2-year followup, with the majority of weight loss consisting of android fat mass. Resolution or improvement of comorbidities is seen, and improved metabolic status, as demonstrated by liver function tests, lipid levels, and measures of glucose homeostasis, may be expected. These data support LAGB as an appropriate surgical option for morbidly obese adolescents