You asked for a memory jog, so here it is: please post the article on complications that you mentioned.

Thanks,

NancyRN

Ok, I can't get it until I go back to the office on Monday. Keep reminding me! (It sucks to be senile...)

Dr. C

Cincinnati, Ohio

www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND

DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

Here's the abstract at least from PubMed. LAGB is the lap band.

J Am Coll Surg. 2006 Feb;202(2):252-61. Epub 2005 Dec 19.Related Articles, Links

Objective comparison of complications resulting from laparoscopic bariatric procedures.

Parikh MS, Laker S, Weiner M, Hajiseyedjavadi O, Ren CJ.

Program for Surgical Weight Loss, Department of Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.

BACKGROUND: Several surgical treatment options for morbid obesity exist. Currently, there are no studies that objectively compare complication rates after laparoscopic bariatric operations performed at a single institution. We objectively classify and compare complications resulting from laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LABG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) with duodenal switch (DS). STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of a prospective database of all patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric operation was performed. Complications were categorized according to severity score using a well-described classification system and compared between procedures. RESULTS: From September 2000 to July 2003, 780 laparoscopic bariatric operations were performed: 480 LAGB, 235 RYGB, and 65 BPD+/-DS. There was one late death. Total complication rates were: 9% for LAGB, 23% for RYGB, and 25% for BPD+/-DS. Complications resulting in organ resection, irreversible deficits, and death (grades III and IV) occurred at rates of 0.2% for LAGB, 2% for RYGB, and 5% for BPD+/-DS. LAGB group had a statistically significant lower overall complication rate, both by incidence and severity, as compared with other groups (p < 0.001). After controlling for differences of admission body mass index, gender, and race, the LAGB group had an almost three and a half times lower likelihood of a complication compared with the RYGB group (odds ratio, 3.4; 95% CI, 2.2-5.3, p < 0.001) and had an over three and a half times lower likelihood of a complication compared with the BPD with DS group (odds ratio, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.8-7.1, p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between complication rates of RYGB and BPD+/-DS. CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric operation complication rates range from 9% to 25%; very few complications are serious. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is the safest operation in terms of complication rate and severity when compared with laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or laparoscopic malabsorptive operations.

You asked for a memory jog, so here it is: please post the article on complications that you mentioned.

Thanks,

NancyRN

:clap2: That is a good brief summary. Peope on the Main Message board at Obesityhelp.com will defend RNY and trash the LapBand at the mere posting of such a study: even patients who have been comatose for several months, had tracheostomy and spent several years in OT and PT to restore muscle and other basic bodily functions. It is an amazing phenomenon.

Nancy

Dr.C,

This would definitely be a GREAT post for the OH website. Hmmm, maybe in a few forums?

Dr. C,

Thanks for posting this. Makes me feel I've chosen the right type of bariatric surgery for me.

NancyRN

If you click "Related Articles" at the top of Dr. C's post, you'll go to a PubMed list of articles on lapbanding.

NancyRN

thank you for that post of complication comparisons. it was an eye-opener for me

I love reading these articles. My favorite quote so far:

"Therefore, we believe that LAGB should be considered the initial approach since it is safer than RYGB and is very effective at achieving weight loss."

-Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band versus laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: ends justify the means?

Thank you Dr. C for the information!