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Weight Loss Surgery Comparison PDF Print E-mail
Written by Charles D. Callery, M.D.   

The following table explains and compares the various weight loss surgeries, and their differences. For more information, please also read our compilation of related medical journals & articles below the table.

Procedure Type:

Restrictive

Malabsorbtion

Procedure Names

Adjustable Gastric Band
(LAGB)

 
AKA: Lap-Band®

        Realize Band

 

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
(VSG)


AKA: VSG, LSG

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Gastric sleeve

Gastric Bypass
(GBP)


AKA:RYGBP

Proximal gastric bypass.

Short limb gastric bypass.

Biliopancreatic Diversion
(BPD)


AKA: BPD

Scopinaro procedure.

Distal gastric bypass.

Long limb gastric bypass.

Duodenal Switch
(DS)


AKA: DS

 

LAGB

VSG

GBP

BPD

DS

Availability

Broadly available.

Approved by United Healthcare and Medicare so far.

Broadly available.

Few centers offer this procedure.

Few centers offer this procedure.

 

LAGB

VSG

GBP

BPD

DS

Mechanism of action

Reduces rate at which food can enter stomach. Induces early satiety.

Limits amount of food that can enter stomach. Reduces ghrelin hormone level.

Decreases size of stomach. Alters flow of nutrients which causes early satiety. Reduces ghrelin level.

Limits number of calories absorbed by shortening effective length of small bowel. Mild restriction of stomach size. Alteration of nutrient flow may induce early satiety.

 

LAGB

VSG

GBP

BPD

DS

Typical percentage of excess weight loss at 5 years

45 - 55%
Long term data inconclusive. Number of studies limited.

50-60%

55-70%

60-80%

60-80%

 

LAGB

VSG

GBP

BPD

DS

Relief of comorbid conditions

Good to very good.

Good to very good.

Very good.

Very good to excellent.

Very good to excellent.

 

LAGB

VSG

GBP

BPD

DS

Advantages

No alteration in metabolism of ingested foods. Lowest operative risk.

No alteration in metabolism of ingested foods. Low operative risk.

Very good balance of weight loss, metabolic side effects, and surgical risk.

Well studied over many years. Very durable results.

No dumping syndrome. Iron deficiency less of a problem. Very durable results

 

LAGB

VSG

GBP

BPD

DS

Ease of reversibility (always requires another surgery).

Relatively straightforward.

90% of stomach removed. Can not be reversed. Can be converted to gastric bypass.


Moderate to difficult, but can be reversed to normal anatomy and function.

Very difficult. Section of stomach has been removed.

90% of stomach removed. Can not be fully reversed.

 

LAGB

VSB

GBP

BPD

DS

Surgical risk

Relatively low.

Low to moderate.

Moderate.

Moderate.

Moderate.

Disadvantages

May not provide adequate weight loss especially for people who persist in snacking and/or eating sweets. Foreign body around stomach with unknown long term (>10yr) effects. Slippage. Erosion. Esophageal dilation. Port site problems.

May not provide adequate weight loss especially for people who persist in snacking and/or eating sweets. Sleeve may dilate and lose restrictive effect.

Effectiveness limited if patient snacks. Decreased iron and potential decreased B12 and calcium absorption. Dumping syndrome.

Real potential for protein and calorie malnutrition. Diarrhea, foul smelling gas. Decreased iron and potential decreased B12 and calcium absorption. Dumping syndrome. Kidney stones.

Real potential for protein and calorie malnutrition. Diarrhea, foul smelling gas. Kidney stones.

 

LAGB

VSG

GBP

BPD

DS

Supplements

Multivitamins.

Multivitamins.

Iron, calcium, B12, multivitamins.

Iron, calcium, B12, multivitamins, Vitamins A, D, protein.

Calcium, protein, multivitamins, vitamins A and D. Iron, B12.

Related Medical Journals  Articles

Here's a current overview of the current status of Sleeve Gastrectomy from the ASMBS (12/22/09).

Click here for Sleeve Statement

 

Sleeve gastrectomy.

New York Prebyterian Hospital, Weill College of Medicine of Cornell University Department of Surgery, New York, NY, USA This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Much has been published over the last few years about sleeve gastrectomy. It is a bariatric operation that has evolved from both established restrictive and malabsorptive procedures. Originally used as a bridge to definitive surgery in high-risk patients, it has recently been forwarded as a stand-alone procedure. Technical details of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) vary, but the premise is removal of the vast majority of the stomach, especially the fundus, leaving only a thin gastric tube between the esophagus and the duodenum. This results in weight loss from restrictive as well as neurohormal mechanisms. Review of the literature reveals an average expected excess weight loss (EWL) of 61%. Morbidity and mortality seem to be on par with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), but with superior weight loss results and an improved long-term complication profile. Unlike popular mixed malabsorptive procedures like Roux en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS), there is no gastrointestinal segment exclusion, maintaining continuity for endoscopic interventions and surveillance. Comorbidity resolution with LSG is variable, though compares favorably with other bariatric procedures. While the early results seem promising, long-term data is still needed to define the place of LSG within the bariatric surgery armamentarium.

 Minerva Chir. 2009 Jun;64(3):285-95.

 

 Gastric banding or bypass? A systematic review comparing the two most popular bariatric procedures.

Tice JA, Karliner L, Walsh J, Petersen AJ, Feldman MD.

Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-1732, USA. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

OBJECTIVE: Bariatric surgical procedures have increased exponentially in the United States. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is now promoted as a safer, potentially reversible and effective alternative to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the current standard of care. This study evaluated the balance of patient-oriented clinical outcomes for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. METHODS: The MEDLINE database (1966 to January 2007), Cochrane clinical trials database, Cochrane reviews database, and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects were searched using the key terms gastroplasty, gastric bypass, laparoscopy, Swedish band, and gastric banding. Studies with at least 1 year of follow-up that directly compared laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass were included. Resolution of obesity-related comorbidities, percentage of excess body weight loss, quality of life, perioperative complications, and long-term adverse events were the abstracted outcomes. RESULTS: The search identified 14 comparative studies (1 randomized trial). Few studies reported outcomes beyond 1 year. Excess body weight loss at 1 year was consistently greater for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass than laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (median difference, 26%; range, 19%-34%; P < .001). Resolution of comorbidities was greater after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. In the highest-quality study, excess body weight loss was 76% with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass versus 48% with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, and diabetes resolved in 78% versus 50% of cases, respectively. Both operating room time and length of hospitalization were shorter for those undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Adverse events were inconsistently reported. Operative mortality was less than 0.5% for both procedures. Perioperative complications were more common with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (9% vs 5%), whereas long-term reoperation rates were lower after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (16% vs 24%). Patient satisfaction favored Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (P=.006). CONCLUSION: Weight loss outcomes strongly favored Roux-en-Y gastric bypass over laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Patients treated with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding had lower short-term morbidity than those treated with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, but reoperation rates were higher among patients who received laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Gastric bypass should remain the primary bariatric procedure used to treat obesity in the United States.

 Am J Med. 2008 Oct;121(10):885-93.

 

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding versus Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 5-year results of a prospective randomized trial.

Angrisani L, Lorenzo M, Borrelli V.

BACKGROUND: To perform a prospective, randomized comparison of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). METHODS: LAGB, using the pars flaccida technique, and standard LRYGB were performed. From January 2000 to November 2000, 51 patients (mean age 34.0 +/- 8.9 years, range 20-49) were randomly allocated to undergo either LAGB (n = 27, 5 men and 22 women, mean age 33.3 years, mean weight 120 kg, mean body mass index [BMI] 43.4 kg/m(2); percentage of excess weight loss 83.8%) or LRYGB (n = 24, 4 men and 20 women, mean age 34.7, mean weight 120 kg, mean BMI 43.8 kg/m(2), percentage of excess weight loss 83.3). Data on the operative time, complications, reoperations with hospital stay, weight, BMI, percentage of excess weight loss, and co-morbidities were collected yearly. Failure was considered a BMI of >35 at 5 years postoperatively. The data were analyzed using Student's t test and Fisher's exact test, with P <.05 considered significant. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 60 +/- 20 minutes for the LAGB group and 220 +/- 100 minutes for the LRYGB group (P <.001). One patient in the LAGB group was lost to follow-up. No patient died. Conversion to laparotomy was performed in 1 (4.2%) of 24 LRYGB patients because of a posterior leak of the gastrojejunal anastomosis. Reoperations were required in 4 (15.2%) of 26 LAGB patients, 2 because of gastric pouch dilation and 2 because of unsatisfactory weight loss. One of these patients required conversion to biliopancreatic diversion; the remaining 3 patients were on the waiting list for LRYGB. Reoperations were required in 3 (12.5%) of the 24 LRYGB patients, and each was because of a potentially lethal complication. No LAGB patient required reoperation because of an early complication. Of the 27 LAGB patients, 3 had hypertension and 1 had sleep apnea. Of the 24 LRYGB patients, 2 had hyperlipemia, 1 had hypertension, and 1 had type 2 diabetes. Five years after surgery, the diabetes, sleep apnea, and hyperlipemia had resolved. At the 5-year (range 60-66 months) follow-up visit, the LRYGB patients had significantly lower weight and BMI and a greater percentage of excess weight loss than did the LAGB patients. Weight loss failure (BMI >35 kg/m(2) at 5 yr) was observed in 9 (34.6%) of 26 LAGB patients and in 1 (4.2%) of 24 LRYGB patients (P <.001). Of the 26 patients in the LAGB group and 24 in the LRYGB group, 3 (11.5%) and 15 (62.5%) had a BMI of <30 kg/m(2), respectively (P <.001). CONCLUSION: The results of our study have shown that LRYGB results in better weight loss and a reduced number of failures compared with LAGB, despite the significantly longer operative time and life-threatening complications.

Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2007 Mar-Apr;3(2):127-32; discussion 132-3. Epub 2007 Feb 27


Comparative study between laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and laparoscopic gastric bypass: single-institution, 5-year experience in bariatric surgery.

Jan JC, * Hong D, * Bardaro SJ, * July LV, * Patterson EJ.
Oregon Weight Loss Surgery, LLC, Legacy Health System, Portland, Oregon.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) are common surgical procedures for morbid obesity. Few single-institution studies have compared LRYGB and LAGB. METHODS: All patients underwent LRYGB or LAGB at Legacy Health System. The data for the study were obtained from a prospectively maintained database. Preoperatively, most patients were allowed to choose between LRYGB and LAGB. Age, gender, body mass index, complications, mortality, and weight loss were examined. RESULTS: From October 2000 to October 2005, 492 patients underwent LRYGB and 406 patients underwent LAGB. The mean age was 44 +/- 10 and 47 +/- 11 years, respectively (P <.001). The mean preoperative body mass index was 49 +/- 8 and 51 +/- 9 kg/m(2) (P <.05). Patients undergoing LRYGB had longer operative times (134 +/- 41 min versus 68 +/- 26 min, P <.001) and longer hospital stays (2.5 +/- 3.5 d versus 1.1 +/- 1.1 d, P <.001). Blood loss was minimal in both groups. The percentage of excess weight loss was significantly better for patients who underwent LRYGB at all points of follow-up, except at 5 years. Total complications occurred in 32% of patients who underwent LRYGB and 24% of patients who underwent LAGB (P = .002). The 90-day mortality rate was .2% in both groups. The reoperation rate was the same (17%) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing LAGB had shorter operative times and shorter hospital stays compared with patients undergoing LRYGB. LAGB was associated with a lower complication rate. Early weight loss was significantly greater after LRYGB, but the data comparing long-term weight loss after LRYGB and LAGB have been inconclusive.

Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2007 Jan-Feb;3(1):42-50.


Laparoscopic gastric bypass versus laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in the super-obese: a comparative study of 290 patients.

Mognol P, Chosidow D, Marmuse JP.

Service de Chirurgie Generale A, Hopital Bichat, Paris, France. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists regarding the best surgical treatment for super-obesity (BMI >50 kg/m2). The two most common bariatric procedures performed worldwide are laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP). We undertook a retrospective single-center study to compare the safety and efficacy of these two operations in super-obese patients. METHODS: 290 super-obese patients underwent laparoscopic bariatric surgery: 179 LAGB and 111 LRYGBP. RESULTS: There were one death in both groups. The early complication rate was higher in the LAGB group (10% vs 2.8%, P<0.01). Late complication rate was higher in the LAGB group (26% vs 15.3%, P<0.05). Operating time and hospital stay were significantly higher in the LRYGBP group. LRYGBP had significantly better excess weight loss than LAGB (63% vs 41% at 1 year, and 73% vs 46% at 2 years), as well as lower BMI than LAGB (35 vs 41 at 18 months). CONCLUSION: LRYGBP results in significantly greater weight loss than LAGB in super-obese patients, but is associated with a higher early complication rate.

Obes Surg. 2005 Jan;15(1):76-81.


Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in the treatment of obesity: a systematic literature review.

* Chapman AE, * Kiroff G, * Game P, * Foster B, * O'Brien P, * Ham J, * Maddern GJ.

Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Geelong Hospital, Australia.

BACKGROUND: We attempted to compare the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding with vertical-banded gastroplasty and gastric bypass. Morbid obesity presents a serious health issue for Western countries, with a rising incidence and a strong association with increased mortality and serious comorbidities, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, conservative treatment options have proven ineffective. Surgical interventions, such as vertical-banded gastroplasty (stomach stapling), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and, more recently, laparoscopic gastric banding have been developed with the aim of providing a laparoscopically placed device that is safe and effective in generating substantial weight loss. METHODS: Electronic databases were systematically searched for references relating to obesity surgery by (1) laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), (2) vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), and (3) Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). RESULTS: Only 6 studies reported comparative results for laparoscopic gastric banding and other surgical procedures. One study reported comparative results for all 3 surgical procedures, and this study was only of moderate quality. In total, 64 studies were found that reported results for LAGB and 57 studies reported results on the comparative procedures. LAGB was associated with a mean short-term mortality rate of approximately 0.05% and an overall median morbidity rate of approximately 11.3%, compared with 0.50% and 23.6% for RYGB, and 0.31% and 25.7% for VBG. Overall, all 3 procedures produced considerable weight loss in patients up to 4 years in the case of LAGB (the maximum follow-up available at the time of the review), and more than 10 years in the case of the comparator procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures-Surgical Review Group concluded that the evidence base was of average quality up to 4 years for LAGB. Laparoscopic gastric banding is safer than VBG and RYGB, in terms of short-term mortality rates. LAGB is effective, at least up to 4 years, as are the comparator procedures. Up to 2 years, LAGB results in less weight loss than RYGB; from 2 to 4 years there is no significant difference between LAGB and RYGB, but the quality of data is only moderate. The long-term efficacy of LAGB remains unproven, and evaluation by randomized controlled trials is recommended to define its merits relative to the comparator procedures.

Surgery. 2004 Mar;135(3):326-51.

 

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