Laparoscopic gastric banding for morbid obesity with expanded PTFE: Technique and early results in the first 100 consecutive cases

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Surgery is the only effective treatment for the truly morb idly obese patient. Gastric banding was demonstrated to be a safe, effectiv e, and easily reversible technique in the open surgical approach. METHODOLOGY: A five-puncture technique, developed by the authors, for lapar oscopic gastric banding utilizing an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTF E) band is fully described and discussed. This technique was utilized in 10 0 consecutive patients operated on between October 1995 and November 1996. RESULTS: We recorded no mortality, no cases of conversion, a 1% rate of maj or complications, a low minor morbidity rate (10%), and an acceptable lengt h of operative time (106 +/- 8 minutes). This was significantly related to body weight, B.M.I. and % of I.B.W. being longer in more obese patients, bu t not to the experience of the surgical team. Weight loss (35.0 +/- 5.1 kg) , percentage of excess weight lost (55.3 +/- 5.3%), percentage of ideal bod y weight achieved (149.1 +/- 8.4%), and body mass index (33.8 +/- 2.0) were all significantly improved at 3, 6, 9 and 12-months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Early results of this series are promising, showing low morbid ity and a rate of weight loss comparable to that achievable by means of ope n gastric banding or vertical banded gastroplasty. Any statement about long -term results deserves a longer follow-up.