Laparoscopic gastric plication versus laparoscopic gastric banding in morbidly obese patients: A nonrandomized comparison study

Background and aim: Nowadays, bariatric surgery benefits from various surgical techniques. These surgical methods offer different advantages. This study compared laparoscopic gastric banding (LGB) with laparoscopic gastric plication (LGP) to determine their efficacy and complications. Methods: This comparison study was conducted in a university-affiliated hospital in Tehran, Iran. During 2018, patients who underwent LGB or LGP based on a shared decision making policy. Follow-up was performed at 3, 6, and 12 months after the surgery. The surgery s efficacy was evaluated by monitoring changes in body mass index (BMI) and Excess weight loss percent (EWL%). Also, surgical complications were recorded. Results: Seventy patients were enrolled in this study (35 patients underwent LGP, and 35 patients had LGB). Seventeen of which (24.3%) were male, and 53 (75.7%) were female. The mean ± SD age of the participants was 34.53 ± 10.03 years. Both groups had a significant BMI loss (mean ± SD of BMI change equals 12.46± 3.8 in LGP and 11.09 ± 5.5 in LGB) and EWL% rise (59.34± 12.35 in LGP and 58.2± 17.88 in LGB). Although the difference between the two procedures was not statistically significant, complications were more frequent in LGB patients. It is also noteworthy that major complications were only seen in the LGB group. Conclusion: The results showed that LGP and LGB were comparable in terms of the amount of weight loss. However, the absence of major surgical complications was an advantage to LGP.