Laparoscopic Ileogastrostomy

Laparoscopic ileogastrostomy was successfully performed on two of three morbidly obese persons. In our first case, access ports proved too short and the patient was converted to an open procedure. Aims were to carry out surgery for the morbidly obese patient through a laparoscope and, as a consequence, increase ambulation, while reducing pain, morbidity, and the chance of apnea (due to impaired breathing in the first 24 h following conventional surgery). Length of laparoscopic surgeries for the second and third patients were 5 and 4 h, respectively, while hospital stays were 10 days and 5 days. Pulmonary function tests at 24 h were carried out and showed a great advantage in favor of the laparoscopic approach. Response of the medical team to this procedure was that it was more time-consuming and demanding than open surgery. Although gastric banding and gastric stapling have been accomplished laparoscopically, we believe these to be the first procedures with anastomoses carried out on morbidly obese patients.