The Effect of Gastric Banding on Weight Loss in Patients with Morbid Obesity

The results following operation for morbid obesity in 41 patients (8 men and 33 women) during the period 1983-89 are reported. The median preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 43.6 (median excess weight 81%). All patients were preoperatively evaluated at the Department of Internal Medicine, and they had all tried several conservative regimens in order to lose weight. They were all operated on with gastric banding, creating a gastric stoma of 15 mm. Pneumonia developed in 10 patients, one patient got a wound infection, and one patient died postoperatively from a massive pulmonary embolism. The immediate postoperative weight loss was satisfactory, median BMI being reduced from 43.6 preoperative to 30.5 after 9 months. Median BMI after 3 and 5 years was 34 and 32 (median excess weight 42 and 41%, respectively). Six patients were reoperated, four having their band removed, two being converted to vertical gastric banding. In conclusion, gastric banding gives satisfactory results for most of the patients. The reoperation rate is, however, high and the long-term result is not favourable for all patients.