Laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding vs laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty in morbidly obese patients: long-term results of a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Aim of the study is to present long-term results of a prospective randomized single-institution clinical trial comparing laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) with laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty (LVBG) in morbid obesity.

Methods: A total of 100 morbidly obese patients (body mass index 40 to 50 kg/m2) were randomized to LASGB (n=49) or LVBG (n=51) and followed up for a minimum of 7 years.

Results: Mean operative time was 65.4 min in LASGBs and 94.2 min in LVBGs (p<0.05); mean hospital stay was 3.7 and 6.6 days, respectively (p<0.05). Late complication rates were 36.7% in LASGBs vs 15.7% in LVBGs at 3 years (p<0.05), 46.9% vs 43.1% at 5 years (NS), and 55.1% vs 47.1% at 7 years (NS). Late reoperation rates were 28.6% in LASGBs and 2.0% in LVBGs at 3 years (p<0.001), 38.8% and 2.0% at 5 years (p<0.001), and 46.9% and 7.8% at 7 years (p<0.001). Excess weight loss in LASGBs was 41.8% at 3 years, 33.2% at 5 years, and 29.9% at 7 years; excess weight loss in LVBGs was 60.9%, 57%, and 53.1%, respectively (p<0.05).

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that in a carefully selected group of patients, LVBG is significantly more effective than LASGB in terms of late complications, late reoperations, and long-term results on weight loss.