Maternal and Neonatal Outcome After Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: a Systematic Review

The number of women of reproductive age undergoing bariatric surgery, including laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), has increased in recent years. The objective of this study was to list both maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnancies in obese women (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) after LAGB and compare them with pregnancies in obese or normal weight women without LAGB. Studies showed a lower incidence of gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), pre-eclampsia, caesarean section (CS), macrosomia, and low birth weight babies in post-LAGB pregnancies compared to pregnancies in obese women without LAGB. Gestational weight gain was also lower in post-LAGB pregnancies. However, the incidence of PIH, pre-eclampsia, CS, preterm birth, large for gestational age, spontaneous abortion, and NICU admission was higher in post-LAGB pregnancies than in normal weight pregnancies. In conclusion, LAGB seems to improve pregnancy outcomes in obese women, even when obesity is still present at the onset of pregnancy. However, further research is needed and pregnant women with a gastric band should always be closely monitored by a multidisciplinary team.