title: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a multi-purpose bariatric operation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), a restrictive operation, in different settings, is presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  31 patients underwent LSG in the following groups: 1) 7 patients with very high BMI as a first stage of the duodenal switch (DS); 2) 7 morbidly obese patients with severe medical conditions; 3) 16 obese patients with lower BMI (35-43); and 4) 1 patient converted from a prior gastric banding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1 patient with BMI 74 died, a 3.2% mortality. The percentage of excess BMI loss (%EBMIL) in group 1 above was 63.1% from 4-27 months. The %EBMIL of the cirrhotics in group 2 was 76.0% (69-100%). The %EBMIL in group 3 patients was 68.5% (58.3-123%) at 3-27 months. The %EBMIL of the group 4 patient is 13% because she had previously lost almost all of her EBMI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LSG may become the ideal operation for staging in patients with BMI >55, for treating morbidly obese patients with severe medical conditions, as an excellent alternative to adjustable bands in lower BMI patients, or for conversion of gastric banding patients.
authors.affiliation: Clínica San Jorge and Alcoy Hospital, Chief of the Surgical Service, Alcoy, Spain.
authors.forename: Aniceto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baltasar
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bou
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bengochea
authors.forename: Lirios
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferri
mesh_terms: D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*