LAPAROSCOPIC GASTROPLASTY - TECHNIQUE AND PRELIMINARY-RESULTS IN PATIENTS WITH MORBID-OBESITY

Morbid obesity an aesthetic, social and psycological problem, with cha racteristic morbidity and mortality Surgical treatment has been develo ped due to the high failure rate of medical treatment, In our previous experience with 40 patients, open transverse gastroplasty reinforced with mesh, has been found to be a good procedure to deal with this pro blem, with very few postoperative complications. In March 1995 we star ted a prospective study to evaluate the feasability and results of the same technique done laparoscopically. We operated on 10 morbid obesit y patients with several failed medical treatments, Laparoscopic surger y was felt to be easier and faster than the open technique. Weight los s was similar to that in our previous patients with open surgery, but postoperative pain and complications were less frequent, and the aesth etic results were better, More patients and a longer follow-up will be needed to provide definitive conclusions.