Vertical banded gastroplasty: a treatment for morbid obesity

Stomach stapling to aid the morbidly obese patient with weight loss has been available for years. Unfortunately, some methods of bariatric surgery (e.g., gastric bypass surgery) can lead to serious complications. This article discusses vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) and presents on overview of morbid obesity and its inherent medical problems, the screening process and the physical and psychological needs of patients undergoing bariatric procedures, the anatomy and physiology of normal digestion, and the perioperative nursing considerations in caring for a patient undergoing VBG.