title: Adjustable Silicone Gastric Banding (ASGB): the Italian experience.
abstract: Adjustable silicone gastric banding (ASGB) is a recently introduced gastric restrictive procedure. From April 1990 to April 1992, 85 patients underwent ASGB at our Department. Patients' characteristics were: 65 females, 20 males, mean age 39.6 years (range 17-60 years); body weight (BW) 127.9 +/- 23 kg; % ideal body weight (%IBW) 205 +/- 29; body mass index (BMI) 46 +/- 7; morbidly obese 68, super-obese 17. Mean follow-up is 353 days. Twelve months after the operation BW was 95.2 +/- 23 kg, % loss of excess BW 52.1 +/- 22, and % IBW 152.2 +/- 30 (45 patients). Mortality rate was zero and postoperative morbidity was insignificant. As late morbidity, we experienced two slippages of the band and six stoma-stenosis with pouch dilatation. Therefore, a surgical revision without removal of the band was performed in eight patients. The band was removed in one patient because of band erosion. In conclusion, ASGB is a safe and effective bariatric procedure. The weight loss is comparable to that produced by more extensive operations. Moreover, ASGB is fully reversible and adjustable to the patients' needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Padova, Istituto di Patalogia Chirurgica 1A, Padova, 35128, Italy.
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Favretti
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Enzi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pizzirani
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Segato
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belluco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pigato
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Busetto
authors.lastname: De Marchi F
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lise