Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy after failed gastric banding: is it really effective? Six years of follow-up

Abstract

Background Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become a valuable surgical option to rescue laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) failures. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine whether conversion to LSG after failed LAGB (CLSG) is a well-tolerated and effective rescue procedure compared with primary LSG (PLSG) in the long term. Setting University hospital, France. Methods A retrospective review of data concerning consecutive patients receiving a LSG between February 2008 and December 2014 was conducted. Mortality, postoperative complications, and weight loss outcomes were analyzed. Results Of 701 LSG, 601 (85.7%) were PLSG and 100 (14.3%) were CLSG. The mortality rate was 0%. Overall morbidity was comparable between the primary and conversion group (10% versus 6%, P =.27). The mean percentage of excess weight loss at 3, 36, and 72 months was 34.9%, 72.1%, and 57.2% after PLSG and 22.6%, 51.2% and 29.8% after CLSG (P <50%) was higher in the CLSG group during the first 5 postoperative years (P