- Treatment of Morbid Obesity Using an Adjustable Gastric Banding System
- Rudolf Weiner, M.D.; Hermann Bockhorn, M.D.; Davorin Wagner, M.D.; Hospital Nordwest, Frankfurt, Germany
Abstract
Morbid obesity is a serious disease that is responsible for several co-morbid conditions. Patients with a
body mass index of over 40 kg/m2 will require surgical intervention if a dietary program fails. In
the US, patients who are morbidly obese number approximately 8 million. At present, three conventional
operations, with acceptable early and late complication rates, are performed most frequently worldwide:
vertical gastroplasty (VRG), vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), and gastric bypass (GB). In this
article, we describe our experience with the LAP-BAND® technique, and in particular with the new LAPBAND
® adjustable gastric banding system (LAGB®), which further reduces postoperative complications and
reoperations.