Age > or =50 does not influence outcome in laparoscopic gastric banding

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is an accepted treatment for obesity. Age greater than 50 carries a theoretically increased risk from weight loss surgery and perhaps less clinical benefit in the long term. We compare results of gastric banding at age 50 and above with age below 50 in our unit.

Between April 2003 and November 2007, 1,335 patients, mean weight 121.7 kg (range 73-268 kg), mean body mass index (BMI) 44.1 kg/m(2) (range 35-99), underwent gastric banding. Three hundred and twenty four patients had age > or =50. Band adjustments were usually carried out using fluoroscopy.

There was no statistically significant difference in the preoperative weights and BMIs for the two patient groups (age < 50: weight 120.7 +/- 24.9, BMI 43.6 +/- 7.3 kg/m(2); age > or = 50: weight 118 +/- 23.7 kg, BMI 43.8 +/- 7 kg/m(2)). Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference with regards to excess percent BMI loss in the two groups over 36 months (age < 50 = 49 +/- 27.9; age > or = 50 = 47.3 +/- 35.1). There was no difference in the incidence of complications with patient age.

These results demonstrate that, at age > or =50, this procedure is successful in producing weight loss and, at the same time, has a complication rate comparable to younger patients.