[Reintervention for failed vertical banded gastroplasty: the adjustable lapband offers a useful technique to further restrict a restrictive procedure].
BACKGROUND
Reintervention for failed bariatric procedures is a subject of much debate. Our experience in remediating failed vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) suggests that the placement of an adjustable lapband may be a useful technique.


METHODS
Over a 13-year period, 98 patients with failed VBG underwent remedial placement of an adjustable lapband. Unsatisfactory results of VBG were due to disruption of the staple line in 58% of cases and to outlet enlargement in 37% of patients. Mean BMI was 38 (range: 28-48); BMI was less than 35 in 37% of cases.


RESULTS
Seven postoperative complications (7%) were noted and required the removal of the lapband in five cases. The average loss of excess weight was 52% at 8 years. Twenty-two percent of patients were lost to follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Placement of an adjustable lapband has proved to be a useful remedial approach in the majority of cases and demonstrates that further restriction of a previous restrictive procedure is useful in patients who initially responded well to VBG.
Dargent
J
J
Polyclinique de Rillieux-la-Pape, 941, rue Capitaine-Julien, 69165 Rillieux-la-Pape cedex, France. jerome.dargent@polyclinique-rillieux.fr
D005260:Female; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D019233:Retreatment; D017211:Treatment Failure