Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy after failed gastric banding: is it really effective? Six years of follow-up.

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become a valuable surgical option to rescue laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) failures.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether conversion to LSG after failed LAGB (CLSG) is a well-tolerated and effective rescue procedure compared with primary LSG (PLSG) in the long term.

Setting: University hospital, France.

Methods: A retrospective review of data concerning consecutive patients receiving a LSG between February 2008 and December 2014 was conducted. Mortality, postoperative complications, and weight loss outcomes were analyzed.

Results: Of 701 LSG, 601 (85.7%) were PLSG and 100 (14.3%) were CLSG. The mortality rate was 0%. Overall morbidity was comparable between the primary and conversion group (10% versus 6%, P = .27). The mean percentage of excess weight loss at 3, 36, and 72 months was 34.9%, 72.1%, and 57.2% after PLSG and 22.6%, 51.2% and 29.8% after CLSG (P<.05). The failure rate (mean percentage of excess weight loss<50%) was higher in the CLSG group during the first 5 postoperative years (P < .001) with more than two thirds of the CLSG considered as having failed at 60 months. Patients who underwent band ablation as a result of insufficient weight loss or weight regain presented the worst results after conversion to LSG.

Conclusion: In this study, the conversion of failed LAGB to LSG in 2 steps indicated a safety profile comparable to that of primary LSG but was significantly less effective from the early postoperative course (3 mo) up to 6 years postoperatively. CLSG may not be the best option because a third operation may be needed as a result of insufficient weight loss.