Laparoscopic Ileogastrostomy for Morbid Obesity

This paper describes the technique of laparoscopic ileogastrostomy which we developed during the summer of 1993. The procedure is identical to that of our 'open' ileogastrostomy except that it is performed laparoscopically. The aim of the surgery is to increase ambulation of the patient, while reducing pain, morbidity, and the chance of apnea (due to impaired breathing in the first 24 h following conventional surgery), by carrying out surgery for the morbidly obese person through a laparoscope. This form of laparoscopic surgery may be completed within 4 h and, as our staff gains more experience with laparoscopic ileogastrostomy, we expect patient stays to be 2-3 days in length. Pulmonary function tests at 24 h show 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.