title: Conversion of failed laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is safe as a single-step procedure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several different procedures have been proposed as a revisional procedure for treatment of failed laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) has been advocated as the procedure of choice for revision. In this study, we compare the single- and two-step approaches for the revision of failed LAGB to LRYGB.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients who underwent bariatric surgery were included in a prospective database. For the purpose of this study, patients who underwent revisional surgery from LAGB to LRYGB were selected. Records for individual patients were completed by data review. Complication rates and weight development were recorded until 2 years postoperatively. Data were compared between both procedures and with complications rates reported in literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Revisional gastric bypass surgery was performed in 257 patients. This was done as a planned single-step procedure in 220 (86 %) patients without indications for acute band removal and in 32 patients as a planned 2 step procedure. Five patients were planned as a single-step procedure but were intraoperatively converted to a 2-step procedure based on poor pouch tissue quality. No postoperative mortality occurred in both groups. No differences in early major morbidity and stricture formation were seen between the two groups. Gastric ulceration was more frequently observed after 2-steps procedure (8.5 vs. 1.7 %, p < 0.05). In comparison with data reported in literature, the single-step procedure had similar to lower complication rates. Percentage excess weight loss two years after revisional gastric bypass procedure was, respectively, 53 versus 67 % (p = 0.147) for single- and two-step procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients without indications for acute band removal, the planned conversion of gastric banding to Roux-Y gastric bypass can be safely done in a single-step procedure without increase in morbidity and no difference in postoperative weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden, Henri Dunantweg 2, 8934 AD, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, marloes.emous@znb.nl.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emous
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Apers
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoff
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: van Beek
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Totté
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult