Surgically induced weight loss: Gastric bypass versus gastroplasty

This chapter describes Roux gastric bypass (RGB) and vertical banded gastroplasty (VGB). In 92 RGB and 191 VBG patients, operated between 1993 to 1998, with preoperative weights of 316 lb (BMI 50.6) and 316 lb (BMI 51.0), decreases in IEW for years 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 57%, 68%, 65%, and 61% for RGB and 49%, 57%, 57%, and 55% for VBG. The authors conclude that neither RGB nor VBG is the better operation and that operative selection for each patient must consider factors other than weight response.