Background: To evaluate, in a surgical department at a university hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, the long-term results after laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), with special emphasis on revisional surgery. Few studies are available with long-term results after laparoscopic VBG. Some short-term studies have shown results similar to gastric banding.
Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent attempted laparoscopic VBG between 1995 and 2005 were followed up regarding weight loss and the need for revisional surgery. Follow-up was from the date of surgery to the end of the observational period (December 2006).
Results: In 486 patients, laparoscopic VBG was attempted. Of the 486 cases, 64 were converted to open surgery. Conversions were common in the first patients, with a conversion rate of 4% during the last 100 patients. The mean body mass index at surgery was 42.4 kg/m2. The median follow-up was 3 years (range 0-11). All patients lost weight. A total of 104 patients (21%) required revisional surgery 114 times during the follow-up period, with food intolerance/vomiting and insufficient weight loss the most common reasons. Of the 104 patients, 31 underwent repeat VBG, of whom 10 needed a secondary revisional procedure, and 49 required conversion to gastric bypass, of whom none have required additional revisional surgery.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic VBG is associated with high revisional rates. In the case of failed VBG, repeat VBG seems to be a poor option and conversion to gastric bypass yields better results. We have abandoned VBG as a surgical option in the treatment of obesity.