Effect of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding on modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in extremely obese adolescents.

Recently, surgical intervention has gained increasing support in adolescents with extreme obesity. This study summarizes the analysis into the effect of laparoscopic adjustable gastric bands (LAGB) on cardiovascular risk factors in 14 extremely obese Portuguese adolescent patients. Data collected both pre- and postoperatively included age, gender, body mass index (BMI), percentage of excess weight loss, cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiovascular outcomes. Ten girls and four boys aged from 13.5 to 17.5 years underwent LABG. The mean preoperative weight and BMI were 127.4 kg and 46.1 kg/m(2), respectively. The average percentage of weight loss calculated was 32 % at 1 year, 38.8 % at 2 years, and 48.1 % at 3 years of follow-up. Simultaneously, blood pressure and insulin resistance index returned to normal, and there was an increase in high-density lipoprotein levels, 3 years after the LABG was fitted. LABG fitting is a safe and effective treatment strategy for the improvement of cardiovascular status following weight loss.