Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding: initial Tasmanian experience.
BACKGROUND
The laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) is a minimally invasive, adjustable and reversible bariatric procedure. The present paper reports an initial 2 year experience at Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania.


METHODS
Between February 1999 and June 2001, 207 patients underwent LAGB insertion (176 female, 31 male). The mean age was 43 years (range: 16-74 years). Mean preoperative weight was 125 kg (range: 83-210 kg) and mean body mass index (BMI) was 45.9 (range: 32.6-67.0). The Bioenterics LAGB (Inamed, Chullora, NSW, Australia) was used in all cases. The average follow up was 17 months (range: 3-24 months). Three patients were lost to follow up (1.5%).


RESULTS
The average weight loss was 12.4 kg at 3 months, 25.3 kg at 1 year and 34.8 kg at 2 years. The average BMI was reduced from 45.9 preoperatively to 41.3 at 3 months, 36.9 at 1 year and 33.5 at 2 years. Reoperation for band slippage occurred in 24 patients (11%), and the injection reservoir required changes in 22 patients (11%). There were three perforations while inserting the LAGB, two non-fatal pulmonary emboli (1%) and two cases of deep vein thrombosis (1%). There has been no mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is a safe and effective method of achieving significant (P < 0.0001) weight reduction in the morbidly obese.
Semple
Craig W
CW
Department of Surgery, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. enltas@telstra.com
Chehata
Ashraf
A
Wilkinson
Stephen
S
Wertheimer
Michael A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013648:Tasmania; D016896:Treatment Outcome