Videolaparoscopic treatment of gastric banding complications

obesity has been developed on the basis of the technical knowledge and the results obtained by some groups with laparoscopic cholecystectomy in obeseand superobese patients. These clinical observations reported in the international literature show that obesity, instead of being a contraindication to the laparoscopic approach, is rather a good indication for laparoscopy.’ The lap-band (BioEnterics, Carpinteria,CA, USA) procedure was the first of the laparoscopic surgical operations to be proposed for the treatment of morbid obesity. In 1994, Bellachew and Cadiere independently proved the technical feasibility of this procedure, opening up the new area of minimally invasive bariatric surgery. Later, the feasibility of the videolaparoscopic approach was shown for vertical banded gastroplasty, gastric bypass, and recently for biliopancreatic diversion.Among laparoscopic operations for obesity, the most commonly performed in Europe is adjustable gastric banding (1770 procedures in Europe in 1996). This operation carries a complication rate requiring reoperation in 10% of cases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the complications following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and their treatment by minimally invasive techniques.