Long-term Results on Quality of Life of Surgical Treatment of Obesity with Vertical Banded Gastroplasty

Background: Few papers assess quality of life after vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG). Methods: 100 patients with severe obesity (preoperatively mean BMI 41.7 kg m⁻²) answered an interview 60 (±2.5) months after VBG. Results: There was no fatal outcome. Nine patients had pulmonary embolus; ten patients required reoperation because of stomal stenosis. Of the 89 patients that still bore a gastroplasty at the moment of the interview, 65 had lost more than 40% of their excess weight (= ‘success’). Improvement in quality of life of these 89 patients was reflected by significant diminution of depression and back pains. Significant diminution of arterial hypertension and improvement of professional satisfaction, and of social, physical, and sexual activity was significantly related to weight loss. Conclusion: VBG resulted generally in a favorable long-term effect on quality of life. However, patients should be informed preoperatively about potential sideeffects such as possible persistent vomiting after several years, oesophagitis and gastritis, restriction in the choice of foods and prolongation of meals.