GASTRIC BANDING IN THE TREATMENT OF MORBID-OBESITY

Background/Aims: Obesity appears to be an epidemic problem now. Thirty percent of men and 40% of women in the fifth decade are obese (>20% o ver ideal weight). Extreme obesity in itself decreases life expectancy and is associated with the early development of cardiopulmonary disor ders, hypertension, diabetes and many other disorders. The non-operati ve treatment of extreme obesity rarely leads to permanent weight reduc tion. Various operative procedures such as verical banded gastroplasti es, malabsorptive operations or gastric bandings have been suggested f or the production of permanent weight loss. A relatively high incidenc e of morbidity following ''laparotomy'' procedures for obesity treatme nt prompted us to start laboratory studies in 1991 on laparoscopic gas tric banding. Material and Methods: In June 1993 we performed the worl d's first ''laparoscopic'' gastric banding in a human, and since then, we have operated on, more than 60 patients using this method. Results : The 5-year mean post-operative weight loss of -37.4 kilograms, with significant blood pressure decreases at 1-year follow-up and with no s ignificant changes noted in the levels of RBC, electrolytes and transa minase. Conclusion: The ''laparoscopic'' approach in gastric banding e nabled us to shorten hospital stay and decrease post-operative complic ations significantly.