Laparotomic vs Laparoscopic Lap-Band: 4-year Results with Early and Intermediate Complications.
De Luca, M MD 1; de Werra, C MD 2; Formato, A MD 3; Formisano, C MD 4; Loffredo, A MD 5; Naddeo, M MD 6; Forestieri, P MD 7
[Article] Obesity Surgery. 10(3):266-268, June 2000.

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Background: Adjustable banding is safe, low invasive, and effective for losing weight.

Methods: 69 patients underwent this procedure by laparotomy or laparoscopy.

Results: Patients operated by laparotomy lost more weight than those operated by laparoscopy, but in 4 patients we were forced to re-operate in order to remove the band (3 pouch dilatations and 1 stomach slippage), and in 9 patients a ventral hernia appeared (5 patients repaired). In the laparoscopic cases there were 4 intra-operative gastric perforations, but all were repaired and the band placed at the same time (3 conversions to open), causing an increased post-operative hospital stay. There was a lower limb deep venous thromboembolism, which was followed by fatal pulmonary embolism (although the patient had been given heparin and had been treated with elastocompression and mobilization 2 hours after surgery). The band eroded in one patient. Weight losses in these morbidly obese patients were satisfactory at 2 years and maintained beyond 3 years.

Conclusion: Laparoscopic adjustable banding is an efficient, generally safe procedure.

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