Gastric Emptying of Semisolids and Pouch Motility Following Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding

Background Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) has been popularized as an effective, safe, minimally invasive surgical technique for the treatment of morbid obesity. We performed a pilot study to evaluate gastric emptying of semisolid meals and antral motility following LAGB. Methods Gastric emptying half-time was compared in normal volunteers and morbidly obese patients before and 6–12 months after LAGB using sulfur colloid-labeled semisolid meals. Results There was no difference in mean age between groups. Women were prevalent in the group of obese patients. BMI was higher in patients before surgery ( p < 0.001). Patients following LAGB demonstrated prolonged gastric pouch emptying (T1/2 = 36.6 ± 9.8 min) compared to subjects without surgery (23.8 ± 4.7 min) and healthy volunteers (22.8 ± 6.8 min; p < 0.001). Similar gastric contractility was found all groups (3.3 ± 0.4; p = 0.968). No cases of band slippage or pouch dilatation were observed during mean follow-up of 11.4 months. Conclusions A standard normal gastric pouch emptying rate of semisolids in asymptomatic patients after LAGB was established. Postoperative prolongation of gastric emptying is a matter of mechanical delay without gastric pouch denervation. This study provides a first step of future functional evaluation of complications following this type of bariatric surgery.