Treatment of morbid obesity with adjustable gastric band: preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
The goal of surgery for morbid obesity is to achieve a good and durable loss of weight and improve health. Previous studies have demonstrated a significant weight loss for the Swedish adjustable gastric band (SAGB).


METHODS
Between November 1996 and April 1998, 18 morbidly obese patients underwent SAGB laparoscopically. Their mean age at surgery was 35 years. The mean preoperative weight was 128 kg (range 89-163), and the mean body mass index was 50.4+/-9. Comorbidity was present in 13 patients.


RESULTS
One gastric perforation occurred, and in one patient it was not possible to create the pneumoperitoneum. Regarding late morbidity, one intragastric migration and one slippage of the band occurred. There was no mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
The low morbidity, the good results with weight loss, and the improvement in comorbidity lead the authors to believe that Swedish adjustable gastric banding for the treatment of morbidly obese patients is a successful means of losing weight and improving general health.
Silva
A S
AS
Department of Surgery, Hospital Geral Santo António, Porto, Portugal.
Cardoso
H
H
Nogueira
C
C
Santos
J
J
Vilaça
H
H
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*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss