15-year follow-up of vertical banded gastroplasty: comparison with other restrictive procedures.

<bold>Introduction: </bold>Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) has been the procedure of choice for bariatric surgeries since the 1980s. However, long-term results of VBG have been reported with different opinions, and new restrictive procedures have been innovated and showing variable results. The aim of this study is to analyze the long-term results of our VBG patients.<bold>Patient and Methods: </bold>Between June 1998 and May 2002, 652 morbidly obese patients received VBG, with the initial 40 patients having open procedures and the subsequent 612 patients using a laparoscopic approach. Operative complications, weight loss, and late complications were followed and compared with groups of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).<bold>Results: </bold>Mean age, preoperative weight, and body mass index (BMI) were 30.96 years, 108.83 kg, and 40.63 kg/m(2), respectively. The overall early postoperative complication rate was 3.4% (22/652). The excess weight loss percentages at 1, 2, 5, and 10 years were 61.04, 59.70, 51.11, and 42.0%, respectively. BMI at 1, 2, 5, and 10 years were 29.64, 29.71, 31.33, and 31.73 kg/m(2), respectively. This result is inferior to the 67% excess weight loss in the LSG group, but is higher than the 38% excess weight loss of the LAGB group. The revision rate is 13.19% (86/652) up to now. Revision surgery was required in 28 (14.0%) patients in the LAGB group and 8 (1.3%) in the LSG group.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>VBG was an operation with acceptable outcome for treating morbid obesity and metabolic disorders. It sets a standard for new restrictive procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]