Laparoscopic inflatable band with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Background: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) leaves a large blind gastric s egment, which is inaccessible for conventional endoscopy. Method: A case is reported, describing a variation of laparoscopic RYGBP by partitioning the stomach by an inflatable band rather than by stapling or division. Results: The stomach was partitioned into a proximal 15 cc pouch and a dist al part by an adjustable gastric band, A RYGBP was fashioned from the proxi mal pouch, 9 patients were treated with this technique: 7 as an initial pro cedure and 2 after previous gastric banding which had been followed by insu fficient weight loss. 1 of these latter patients developed erosion of the b and through the gastrojejunostomy 7 months postoperatively. Conclusion: Laparoscopic proximal RYGBP with inflatable-band gastric partit ioning is feasible, Erosion of the band though the gastrojejunostomy, howev er, might be a serious side-effect of this technique.