Effect of Vertical Banded Gastroplasty on Hypertension, Diabetes and Dyslipidemia

Background: Operations for morbid obesity that are effective in inducing weight loss improve blood pressure, glycemic control and dyslipidemia. Our purpose was to study the effectiveness of VBG in improving hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemias in morbidly obese patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a cohort of 80 morbidly obese patients was conducted. Characteristics of patients were: mean age 37 years; gender: women 65, men 15; mean initial BMI 49.5 kg/m2; follow-up >5 years in 52 patients. Blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels and glycemia were assessed preoperatively and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 months and every year after VBG. Results: Hypertension resolved in 65.5% of patients (38 of 58), serum cholesterol level became normal in 34.28% of patients (12 of 35), triglyceride level became normal in 77.77% (7 of 9) and diabetes resolved in 55.55% (5 of 9). Conclusion: Weight loss induced byVBG improves blood pressure, triglyceride levels and glycemia.The beneficial changes occur early in the postoperative period and last 5 years or more, despite of the trend to regain some weight. Improvements in risk factors were greater in patients with higher preoperative values.