| Gastric banding is a relatively new form of weight | | | | As with most restrictive forms of surgery weight |
| loss surgery first pioneered in Sweden in 1985 | | | | loss tends to be less dramatic than in |
| with the band being designed initially to be fitted | | | | malabsorption or combination surgeries and |
| using open surgery. The first laparoscopic surgery | | | | patients have to work a little bit harder in the |
| for the insertion of a gastric band was performed | | | | early months following surgery to achieve a |
| in France in 2000 and a year later in 2001 the | | | | satisfactory rate of weight loss. However, |
| Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the | | | | because weight loss is not quite so easy and |
| use of an American adjustable gastric banding | | | | patients have to learn a strict set of eating habits, |
| system for use in the United States. Since then | | | | laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery tends |
| gastric banding has grown rapidly in popularity. | | | | to produce better long-term results and weight |
| The laparoscopic adjustable gastric band is a form | | | | stability. |
| of restrictive gastric bypass surgery which many | | | | It is interesting to note that in Australia the vast |
| surgeons are beginning to favor as it avoids many | | | | majority of weight loss surgeries (over 90%) |
| of the nutritional problems associated with | | | | now involve the use of the laparoscopic |
| malabsorption surgeries. It also involves no cutting | | | | adjustable gastric band. It is also significant that in |
| or stapling of the stomach and this, combined | | | | one reported Australian study involving 2700 |
| with the fact that the procedure can be | | | | morbidly obese patients who underwent |
| performed laparoscopically, means that the death | | | | laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery not |
| rate from surgery is about one-tenth of that | | | | one single death has been reported which can be |
| seen in the widely used open Roux-en-Y form of | | | | directly attributed to the surgery. This compares |
| surgery. | | | | with Roux-en-Y surgery where, in a group of the |
| From the patient's point of view the laparoscopic | | | | same size, the average expected number of |
| adjustable gastric band means a relatively short | | | | deaths would be in the region of 13 patients. |
| stay in hospital and a quick recovery. Once in | | | | Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery, like |
| place the band can also be adjusted without | | | | any other form of surgery, is not without its risks |
| further surgery so that the surgeon has much | | | | and complications and it would incorrect to |
| greater control of patient management in the | | | | conclude from this brief introduction to the |
| critical weeks following surgery, making it possible | | | | procedure that it is a simple and routine |
| to react quickly and easily to problems which the | | | | procedure. Indeed, it is far from an easy option. |
| patient might experience. | | | | Nevertheless, in comparison to the other forms |
| The laparoscopic adjustable gastric band | | | | of weight loss surgery available, it does represent |
| procedure is also fully reversible and, after | | | | an attractive option for many people who are |
| removal of the band, the stomach will return to | | | | contemplating surgery. |
| its normal pre-operative state. | | | | |