Thirty months experience with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.
BACKGROUND
Since June 1996 we performed laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB), because of low invasivity, absence of malabsorption, reversibility, and postoperative regulation.


METHODS
Criteria included body mass index (BMI) >40 or >35 with serious obesity-related conditions. 154 patients underwent LASGB. BMI ranged from 35 to 65.7 (mean 43.7+/-6.2).


RESULTS
The laparoscopic procedure was successfully completed in 150 patients (97.4%). One patient was converted to the laparotomic procedure because of hepatomegaly; 4 patients had to be converted for gastric laceration during the laparoscopic approach. In one of these patients, the band was removed 7 days later for sepsis, followed by an uneventful postoperative course. The mean length of postoperative hospitalization was 2.3+/-0.9 days. Per cent of excess weight loss was 42.5+/-22.4 after 1 year.


CONCLUSIONS
LASGB was feasible and effective.
Paganelli
M
M
First Surgical Department, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy. paganelli,michele@hsr.it
Giacomelli
M
M
Librenti
M C
MC
Pontiroli
A E
AE
Ferla
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000379:methods*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss