Laparoscopic Adjustable Silicone Gastric Banding: Technique and Results

BACKGROUND: Kuzmak's Adjustable Silicone Gastric Banding (ASGB) is the least invasive operation available for morbid obesity, and it is one of the more effective. Based on the know-how gained from performing more than 250 'open' procedures, we have developed an original laparoscopic technique, whose main steps are pouch measurement, limited dissection along the lesser and the greater curvature and the application of the retention sutures. METHODS: From September 1993 through October 1994, 30 morbidly obese patients underwent laparoscopic ASGB. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 2 h and the postoperative stay 2-3 days. Only one major perioperative complication (stomach slippage) was observed. The weight loss achieved, reported as a variation of Body Weight, Body Mass Index, per cent Ideal Body Weight and per cent Excess Weight Loss was similar to that obtained with the open procedure. CONCLUSION: This new approach is a major achievement in bariatric surgery, because it combines the minimal invasiveness of laparoscopy with the reversibility and adjustability of ASGB.