Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery: Our Experience

Since 1993, 137 gastric resective operations for morbid obesity were carried out by laparoscopic approach: 115 vertical banded gastroplasties with complete division between the staple lines (VBG) and 18 adjustable silicone gastric bandings (ASGB). Laparoscopic ASGB, started in 1993, showed all the advantage of laparoscopic surgery with good results on weight loss, i.e. 67% excess weight loss (EWL) at 2 years, but presented a high rate of late complications (66.6%) due to functional stoma stenosis with pouch dilatation (12 patients underwent a reoperation).Since 1995, Authors started with laparoscopic VBG; late complications were decreased (4%) while results on weight loss (59,8% EWL at 2 years) compare favourably with personal data previously reported on 218 "open" VBG.Considering these results and the reduction of perioperative risks, Authors propose laparoscopic VBG as first choice intervention in morbid obesity surgery.