According to a five-year study comparing the two most common weight-loss surgery procedures for the seriously overweight, the LAP-BAND® System is less invasive and less risky than laparoscopic gastric bypass.

This finding has been reported at this year's American Society for Bariatric Surgery meeting by Emma Patterson, M.D., the senior investigator of the study and Director of Oregon Weight Loss Surgery, LLC (Portland, OR).

"This was one of the first comparative studies of LAP-BAND and laparoscopic gastric bypass patients conducted by a single institution," said Dr. Patterson. "It is significant to note that at the five-year mark there is no difference in the weight-loss results between the LAP-BAND and laparoscopic gastric bypass patients, yet the gastric bypass has a much greater risk of operative complications."

The study is an extension of a three-year study conducted by Legacy Health System published two years ago.

The conclusions of the study are as follows:
-- LAP-BAND patients have shorter operative time, less blood loss and shorter hospital stay compared with laparoscopic gastric bypass patients
-- LAP-BAND is less invasive with less perioperative risk to the patient.
-- LAP-BAND patients have decreased complication rates.

Read more at PR Newswire.

Photo Credit: UI Healthcare