title: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is a safe and effective treatment for morbid obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgery has been recognized as an effective long-term treatment for morbid obesity. The purpose of this study is to present our experience of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) as a safe and effective treatment for morbid obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over eight months, 39 morbidly obese patients, having a Body Mass Index (BMI) > 40 kg/m2, were included in this study. Conservative measures failed to maintain weight loss in all patients. The procedure is performed through a 5-trocar technique. The procedure involves gastric partitioning and stoma formation by an inflatable band. The stoma can be adjusted by injection of saline in the band reservoir.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 31.3 years. The mean BMI was 44.2 Kg/m2. All procedures were completed laparoscopically. The mean hospital stay was 2.7 days. The morbidity rate was 15.32%. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 6.7 months. The mean BMI after six months (in 28 patients) was 36.6 Kg/m2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic insertion of the adjustable gastric banding is a safe and effective method for the treatment of morbid obesity and should be the standard way of band insertion.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bakr
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fahim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss