Lap Band System is less invasive, less risky than laparoscopic gastric bypass, according to a five-year study comparing the two most common weight-loss surgery procedures for the seriously overweight presented at this year's American Society for Bariatric Surgery meeting by the senior investigator of the study and Director of Oregon Weight loss Surgery, LLC (Portland, OR.

This was one of the first comparative studies of Lap Band and laparoscopic gastric bypass patients conducted by a single institution. It is significant to note that at the five-year mark there is no difference in the weight-loss results between the Lap Band and laparoscopic gastric bypass patients, yet the gastric bypass has a much greater risk of operative complications. The study is an extension of a three-year study conducted by Legacy Health System published two years ago.

The study concludes:

Lap Band patients have shorter operative time, less blood loss and shorter hospital stay compared with laparoscopic gastric bypass patients
Lap Band is less invasive with less operative risk to the patient
Lap Band patients have decreased complication rates

Additional results of the study indicate that patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass had statistically significant greater weight loss up to 4 years, but at 5 years, there was no statistical difference in percent excess weight loss between laparoscopic gastric bypass and Lap Band.

The study also concluded that laparoscopic gastric bypass patients had significantly more major complications than Lap Band patients (10% vs. 5%, respectively). This observation was substantially different from the finding in the 3-year report, where no significant difference in major complications appeared between laparoscopic gastric bypass and Lap Band patients.

As morbid obesity continues to be a global health problem, bariatric surgery remains the only viable, consistent form of weight loss for this patient population. With the Lap Band System, there is now a safer, less invasive and more acceptable surgical option for patients suffering from the emotional and physical impact of being seriously overweight.