Laparoscopic surgery for obesity

Bariatric surgery has been a subject to a noteworthy revolution since the a dvent of the laparoscopic approach. This overview of the literature highlig hts on established scientific data in this field and the eventual evidence bases of laparoscopic surgery. Vertical banded gastroplasty and gastric byp ass are now recognised as the gold-standards far the surgical treatment of morbid obesity by laparotomy. For the minimally invasive approach, the gast ric banding appears now as a validated technique with a good level of evide nce. The results of this approach appears to be comparable to those of othe r techniques tin terms of weight Loss). But there is at present no randomis ed trial comparing the gastric banding with the gold-standards (gastric ban ding versus vertical banded gastroplasty). Sane particular feature of this surgery are discussed (such as the association of a gastroesophageal reflux disease or a cholelithiasis). The criteria of patient's selection, the pre and post-operative management are also detailled in the light of literatur e data and guidelines of international societies.