Background: Morbid obesity occurs in 2-5% of the population of Europe, Aust
ralia, and the United States and is becoming more common. Open surgical tec
hniques, such as vertical banded gastroplasty and other divisional procedur
es in the stomach, have led to long-term weight reduction as well as an ame
lioration of the attendant medical problems in approximately two-thirds of
patients.
Materials and methods: A total of 335 patients with a median age of 41 year
s underwent gastric banding. We emphasized the need for long-term maintenan
ce and follow-up. The indications for surgery comprised a body mass index >
35, a stated desire to undergo the procedure, and a full understanding of a
ll possible complications.
Results: All patients have needed band adjustments of 1-4 mi over the cours
e of their follow-up. No patient had increased his or her weight during the
follow-up, and only three patients have not enjoyed sustained weight loss.
Conclusions: Laparoscopic gastric banding has much to recommend it, Certain
ly in the short term, its results in terms of effectiveness of weight loss
are at least as good as those of any open procedure. Longer follow-up will
show whether this weight loss is maintainable. The procedure is technically
demanding, and the major prerequisite of satisfactory performance of this
surgery is laparoscopic experience.