The Effectiveness of Gastric Band: A Retrospective Seven-year U.s. Follow-up Study

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of gastric band during 7 years of follow-up.

Methods: A retrospective database analysis was conducted using longitudinal data from gastric band patients between Jan 1, 2000 and Feb 29, 2008. Patients were included for the efficacy analysis if they were at least 18 years of age at surgery date and had at least 1 visit with a recorded weight post-surgery. Percent excess weight loss (%EWL) was assessed at one-year intervals post-surgery and missing values were interpolated using a cubic spline function. Linear regression models were used to assess the characteristics that affected last available %EWL. Death and re-operation for weight gain (defined as two separate weight loss surgeries) were reported for all patients undergoing surgery.

Results: We identified 2,909 gastric band patients who met inclusion criteria for the efficacy analysis. The majority of patients were white (83.3%) females (68.4%). The mean age was 44.6 years and the mean baseline BMI was 45.3. %EWL was 50.9% at 2 years and 52.9% at 3 years post-surgery and was sustained thereafter (Table). In multivariate models, increased number of office visits, younger age, female gender, and Caucasian race were significantly associated with higher final %EWL. Of all surgical patients (N=2,965), there was one surgical death (0.03%). Nine (0.1%) patients died from unrelated causes during follow-up and 11 (0.4%) underwent re-operation for weight gain.

Conclusions: Gastric band patients achieved substantial and sustainable weight loss of approximately 50% EWL two years post-surgery, which was sustained at seven years post-surgery.

Session: Podium Presentation

Program Number: S107