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Updated: Sep 29, 2026
Laparoscopic Repair of Para-Esophageal Hernia Using Absorbable Biosynthetic Mesh
Published on: September 11, 2021
Experience with Lap-band System up to 7 years
1Department of Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal Tract Surgery, Europe St-Michel Clinic, Brussels, Belgium. marcvertruyen@hotmail.com
Background:
Morbid obesity occurs in 2-5% of the population of Western countries. Laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding was designed to be a minimally invasive, adjustable and reversible procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity.
Material And Methods:
The Lap-band System was evaluated retrospectively in a series of 543 patients. Data on preoperative aspects and postoperative outcome and weight loss patterns at up to 7 years follow-up (median follow-up 36 months) are presented.
Results:
The most important late complication was total and irreversible food intolerance due to proximal pouch dilatation, which occurred in 24 patients (4.6%). 20 of these patients (3.8%) had had a proximal pouch calibration with 25 cc; 4 patients were calibrated with 15 cc. The mean BMI had fallen from 44 kg/m2 to 33.2 kg/m2 and was stable after a follow-up of up to 86 months (median 36 months).
Conclusion:
The Lap-band System is an effective procedure for achieving appreciable and stable weight loss at up to 7 years of follow-up (median 36 months). The minimally invasive approach was associated with a short hospital stay and a low rate of complications. Preoperative patient selection, detailed information and availability of the multidisciplinary team permitted us to achieve good longstanding results.
