Gastric Surgery in Morbid Obesity

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term outcome of gastric restrictive surgery in morbidly obese patients aged 55 years and older. DESIGN: Retrospective review with 3- to 13-year postoperative follow-up. Average follow-up 6 years. SETTING: Private surgical practice with bariatric surgery specialty. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-eight morbidity obese patients, 73 women and 15 men, aged 55 years and older. INTERVENTION: Between 1977 and 1989, 77 patients had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, four had vertical banded gastroplasty, and seven had silicone ring vertical gastroplasty. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Weight loss, change in incidence of comorbidity, and reduction in medication use. RESULTS: Patients had an average of 57% excess body weight loss, lost 31 kg, and decreased their body mass index by 12 kg/m2. There was a 20% to 48% reduction in the number of patients requiring medication for obesity-related disorders (eg, diabetes mellitus and hypertension). Body mass index of less than 30 kg/m2 was achieved and maintained by 42% of patients. CONCLUSION: This form of therapy is appropriate for selected patients in the older age groups.