42-MONTH PRELIMINARY FOLLOW-UP OF THE SILASTIC RING VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY

Background: The authors review preliminary experience with silastic ri ng vertical gastroplasty (SRVG). Methods: Of 202 patients who underwen t SRVG, 191 are more than 3 months postoperation and of these 165 were accessible for review. Results: Pouch volume could not be readily mea sured. The TA90BN stapler was occasionally difficult to apply exactly at the angle of His. There was one subphrenic abscess, one gastric ble ed, and one dehiscence. Vomiting occurred in eight patients who requir ed reoperation: ring removal, three; cholecystectomy, one; conversion to vertical banded gastroplasty, one; conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, three. There was no mortality. Weight loss has been satisfacto ry to 42 months. Conclusion: SRVG has been a relatively simple operati on, with acceptable morbidity and weight loss thus far.