Predictive factors of outcome after gastric banding: a nationwide survey on the role of center activity and patients' behavior.

BACKGROUND: Systematic studies of postoperative outcome of bariatric surgery provide information on the predictors of success. Surgeon's and institution experience and patient's behavior after surgery are key determinant of success or failure. Data on clinical trials generally reflect the experience of skilled obesity surgery centers. Little is known about the current practice at a nationwide level. The present study was realized in the frame of a national survey on medical and surgical practices conducted by the public health insurance system. The objective was to analyze systematically and prospectively the outcome of all bariatric surgery procedures consecutively performed in a given period, as registered by the French National Medical Insurance Service. This study at a nationwide level focused on predictive factors of success and analyzed how the experience of the centers relates to the patients' outcomes at 1 and 2 years after surgery. METHODS: This study examined prospectively the 2-year predictors of success of all consecutive 1236 bariatric operations performed at a nationwide level. Most (87.3%) were laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), so that the non-LAGB were eliminated from the study. Data were collected independently by consultants of the French National Medical Insurance Service: characteristics of the patients, evolution of body mass index (BMI), physical activity and comorbidities, changes in behavior, complications, reoperations. Information was available on the activity of the surgical teams. Excess weight loss (EWL) >50% was considered a "success," and EWL <50% "not a success." A backstep logistic regression (likelihood ratio test) was used to determine predictive factors. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed significant differences in EWL with the following data: age <40 years (P < 0.01), initial BMI <50 kg/m (P < 0.001), experience of the surgeon(s) >2 procedures per week (P < 0.01), recovery of physical activity (P < 0.001), and change in eating habits (P < 0.001). Compared with 15- to 39-year-old patients, 40- to 49-year-old patients have a 1.5 higher risk not to have a success after surgery and over 50-year-old patients a 1.8 higher risk. Morbidly obese patients (40 < BMI < 49) had a 2.6 times higher risk not to have a success than patients with severe obesity (35 < BMI < 39). Superobese patients (BMI >50) had a 5.4 times higher risk not to succeed than patients with severe obesity. Being operated by a team with a surgical activity over 15 bariatric procedures/2 months doubles the chance of a successful operation when compared with patients operated by surgical teams having only performed 1 or 2 bariatric procedures. Patients who had not recovered or increased their physical activity after operation had a 2.3 times higher risk not to have a success than those who did. Patients who had not changed their eating habits had a 2.2 times higher risk not to have a success than those who did. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide survey shows that the best profile for a success after gastric banding is a patient <40 years, with an initial BMI <50 kg/m, willing to change his eating habits and to recover or increase his physical activity after surgery and who has been operated by a team usually performing >2 bariatric procedures per week. This study emphasizes that obesity surgery requires a significant experience of the surgical team and a multidisciplinary approach to improve behavioral changes.

A nationwide survey on bariatric surgery in France: two years prospective follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Most studies on bariatric surgery outcomes have been performed in clinical trials (eg. the SOS) or reflect the clinical experience and practice of specific and experienced centers. Little is known about the current practice at a nationwide level. METHODS: This is a systematic nationwide study on the 2-year outcome of all consecutive 1,236 bariatric operations performed in France. Data on mortality, weight loss, complications, and patient satisfaction were collected independently from the medical and surgical team involved in the patients' care. RESULTS: 87.3% of the patients underwent an adjustable gastric banding (ABG), 8.6% a vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), 3.8% a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) and 0.3% a biliopancreatic diversion (BPD). Loss of follow-up was 12% at year 1 and 18% at year 2. The rate of laparoscopic procedures was 98% for ABG and 73% for RYGBP. Mortality rate was 0.16% in the operative period and 0.27% during follow-up. Excess weight loss ranged from 43% (AGB) to 66% (RYGBP). Co-morbidities improved in more than 70% of patients. CONCLUSION: Outcomes of bariatric surgery in routine practice (mortality, weight loss, course of co-morbidities, and quality of life) are similar to the results published in clinical trials.

The prevalence of ESRD treated with renal dialysis in France in 2003.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treated with renal dialysis is poorly known in France because there is no national registry of dialysis patients. The specific aims of this study are to determine the total number of patients treated with renal dialysis and their social, demographic, and clinical characteristics, as well as define the overall care they received. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional descriptive study from June 2 to June 8, 2003, in all renal dialysis units (including pediatric units) by including all patients residing in France with ESRD who were dialyzed during that week, irrespective of age or the treatment they received. We gathered sociodemographic (age, sex, place of residence, and occupation) and clinical data (year they entered dialysis therapy, initial renal disease, comorbidities, and associated handicaps) and information concerning their overall treatment plan (waiting list for kidney transplant, therapeutic regimen, and dialysis technique used). RESULTS: A total of 30,882 patients residing in France were treated with renal dialysis. The unadjusted prevalence of dialysis was 513.1 patients per million population (pmp); 498.2 pmp in metropolitan France and 1,035.7 pmp in the overseas territories. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients and their therapeutic regimens were different in metropolitan France and the overseas territories. CONCLUSION: This study constitutes the first comprehensive inventory of dialysis therapy in France, where the prevalence of ESRD is among the highest in the world.

[Regional disparities in the management of dialysed patients in France in 2003]. / Les disparités régionales de prise en charge des patients dialysés en France en 2003.

Epidemiologic data on end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treated with renal dialysis remain sparse and incomplete in France because there is no national registry of dialysis patients. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics (age, gender, comorbidities, associated handicap) of patients treated with renal dialysis and to compare the dialysis regional practices. We performed a cross-sectional descriptive study from June 2 to June 8, 2003 in all renal dialysis units by enrolling all the patients residing in France with ESRD who were dialysed during that week, irrespective of the treatment they received or where they were being treated. In 2003, the type of dialysis units available and the technique they employ were quite different from one region to another, varying from 41.1 to 70.2% for highly specialized unit, 9.4 to 48.4% for self-care hemodialysis, and 2.9 to 26.5% for peritoneal dialysis.