Five-year weight loss in primary gastric bypass and revisional gastric bypass for failed adjustable gastric banding: results of a case-matched study.

BACKGROUND: Despite their now frequent use, the long-term results for adjustable gastric bands are variable and often less than gastric bypass. Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) provides good early results and seems to be the revisional procedure of choice. Nevertheless, the long-term outcomes following revisional LRYGB (rLRYGB) for failed adjustable gastric banding have not been compared with those for primary LRYGB (pLRYGB).

METHODS: The objective was to compare weight loss and changes in obesity related co-morbidities 5 years after pLRYGB and rLRYGB for failed adjustable gastric banding. The prospective database of a single surgery university center (Paris, France) was queried for clinical and other relevant data. From January 2004 to September 2008, 58 and 272 patients have undergone rLRYGB and pLRYGB, respectively. Rate of lost to follow-up was 13.3%. We matched 45 patients undergoing rLRYGB (case group) with 45 undergoing pLRYGB (control group) for age, sex, and initial body mass index (BMI).

RESULTS: Case and control groups did not differ for initial BMI (46.9±7.2 versus 46.9±7.5 kg/m²; P=.99), age (43.4±9.4 versus 43.6±9.8y; P=.91), or sex ratio (91.1% female, P=.99). The rates of coexisting conditions in the 2 groups were similar. At 5 years, weight loss (kg) (39.9±16.4 versus 31.4±15.8; P=.02), percentage of weight loss (%) (30.8±9.8 versus 24.8±11.5; P=.03), and percentage of excess weight loss (%) (68.4±20.6 versus 55.7±26.3; P=.007) were higher for pLRYGB than rLRYGB. Rates of remission and improvement of coexisting conditions were similar.

CONCLUSION: After 5 years of follow-up, pLRYGB provides greater weight loss than rLRYGB with similar rates of improvement and remission of coexisting conditions. Patients and surgeons should be aware of such results before primary and revisional bariatric surgery.