Laparoscopic gastric banding in older patients

Older patients experience the same benefits from a laparoscopic gastric banding (LGB) operation as younger patients.

A case series of 320 morbidly obese and superobese patients who underwent LGB within a 46-month period.

University Hospital Innsbruck, General Surgical Department, Innsbruck, Austria.

A consecutive sample of 320 patients who met the criteria for a bariatric procedure and were aged 18 years or older. Patients were divided into the following 2 age groups: younger patients (group A, 18-49 years) and older patients (group B, > or =50 years).

Laparoscopic gastric banding with an adjustable gastric band.

Clinicopathologic features, including weight loss, complications, length of hospital stay, and operative times, were reviewed retrospectively, and a multivariate analysis was carried out.

Of 320 patients, we identified 68 older patients (21.5%, group B). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 12 months (range, 6-28 months). The average preoperative weight was 127.8 kg (body mass index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters], 44.29). The average total weight loss was 4.3 kg per month for the first 3 months, reaching an average total of 31.0 kg after 1 year. The excess weight loss after 12 months was 68%. Complications requiring reoperation occurred in 10.3% of patients. Ninety-seven percent of the patients reported an improvement in their comorbid conditions.

Older patients receive the same benefits from LGB as younger patients, with an acceptable postoperative complication rate. Presently, our upper age limit is 70 years.