title: Initial experience with Swedish adjustable gastric band at Al-noor hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this 4-year study is to give an initial account of the weight loss and complications after applying the Swedish adjustable gastric band (SAGB) at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital-Makkah.
  
  
  METHODS
  97 morbidly obese patients underwent SAGB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  94 patients benefited by losing weight. 1 patient had a minor complication (wound infection) and 1 did not return for follow-up. 2 early patients died of pulmonary embolism. The 64 females (68%) and 30 males had mean BMI 50.8 kg/m2 before SAGB and 35.0 at 2 years after SAGB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gastric banding generally was a valuable procedure for morbidly obese patients. It was easy to perform, with low operative risk and few longterm complications.
authors.affiliation: Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Holy Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. khalid_dhafar@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Khalid Obeid
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Dhafar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology