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News, Updates, and Blogs in Weight Loss Lap Adjustable Gastric Banding For Patients With BMI 30 - 35 We are now offering patients who were not previously candidates for surgery the opportunity to have bariatric surgery as part of an ongoing study. Dec 05, 2008 We are pleased to announce open enrollment in an Institutional Reviwe Board (IRB)-approved study to treat Class I obesity (BMI 30 – 35 kg/m2) using the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB). Outside of such a study, bariatric surgery is only approved to patients who meet the 1991 NIH Consensus Panel guidelines in which you must have a BMI of at least 40 in the absence of any significant obesity-related medical diseases; or 35 with such a disease; and be an acceptable surgical candidate. In spite of these guidelines, obesity (BMI > 30) afflicts 30% of our population as do many of the myriad of obesity-related diseases.
In other countries (where the U.S. federal guidelines do not apply) excellent results have been achieved with offering the LAGB to patients with BMI > 30. An Australian study of 80 patients with BMI 30 – 35 randomized to intensive medical weight loss versus LAGB achieved an 87% of excess weight lost (excess weight is the difference between your actual weight and your ideal body weight) with LAGB vs 5.5% with medical weight loss at 2 years. The also demonstrated significant improvement in medical conditions including the metabolic syndrome in the surgical group.
Our hypothesis is that U.S. patients with BMI 30-35 would also benefit substantially from such a procedure. We are enrolling patients to be part of the study and undergo a thorough evaluation and participate in an intensive educational program to achieve the best results from a comprehensive program including LAGB. As this procedure is being offered outside of the NIH criteria, insurance companies will unlikely cover the cost of the surgery however we have negotiated competitive pricing with our affiliated hospitals and anesthesia departments. In addition, financing options are available. For interested candidates, please contact our office. |