Surgical treatment of obesity.

Thirty-two patients, 28 women and 4 men aged from 17 to 57 years were treated surgically for obesity. Their body weight ranged from 90 to 184 kg, with an excess weight from 42% to 180%. In 6 cases the Salmon operation and in 26 the Payne-de Wind operation were performed. Two patients died. In the remaining cases the postoperative course was uneventful and relatively mild. The longest follow-up period was 22 months. Weight loss rate was highest in the first period after the operation and the monthly rate of the weight loss in the first year after the operation was 3.5 to 6 kg. Diarrhea disappeared usually after 4 months. In some patients a transient fall in serum potassium and calcium level was observed. Other favorable results included a significant fall in the serum levels of cholesterol and beta-lipoproteins and improved value of BSP retention test. The condition of the patients is good and they have returned to work.