title: Early results of conversion of laparoscopic adjustable gastric band to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As the number of laparoscopic adjustable gastric bands (LAGBs) placed has increased, the number of patients requiring removal of the device has also increased.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data from our institution, a U.S. university medical center, were reviewed to determine the feasibility, patient characteristics, and early results of converting patients from LAGB to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 350 patients underwent LAGB placement at our institution from 2001 to 2008. Of these, 26 required conversion to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for the following reasons: slippage, poor weight loss, LAGB intolerance, esophageal dilation, infection, and gastric ischemia. All conversions were completed laparoscopically. The average operating time and length of stay was 160 minutes and 3 days, respectively. Three complications developed. The average interval to conversion was 29 months. The average follow-up after conversion was 18 months. The average percentage of excess body weight loss at conversion was 23%. At 12 months after conversion, the patients had achieved an average percentage of excess body weight loss of 56% from their pre-LAGB weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increasing popularity of the LAGB has led to a considerable number of revisions of the device. Our early experience has shown that converting patients from LAGB to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is feasible and safe and can offer patients substantial additional weight loss.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perugini
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Czerniach
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gallagher-Dorval
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kelly