Safety and effectiveness of bariatric surgery: Roux-en-y gastric bypass is superior to gastric banding in the management of morbidly obese patients: a reply to the response by Bhoyrul et al

• Main Authors: Guller Ulrich, Klein Lazar V, Hagen John A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2009-08-01
• Series: Patient Safety in Surgery
• Online Access: http://www.pssjournal.com/content/3/1/20

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We have read the letter by Bhoyrul et al. in response to our recently published article "<it>Safety and effectiveness of bariatric surgery: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is superior to gastric banding in the management of morbidly obese patients"</it>. We strongly disagree with the content of the letter.</p> <p>Results and discussion</p> <p>Bhoyrul et al. base their letter mostly on low level evidence such as single-institutional case series (level IV evidence) and expert opinion (level V evidence). Surprisingly, they do not comment on the randomized controlled trial, which clearly favours gastric bypass over gastric banding.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The letter by Bhoyrul et al. is based on low level evidence and is itself biased, unsubstantiated, and not supported by the current literature.</p>