Weight loss surgery became less invasive with the introduction of the gastric banding procedure. Surgeons laparoscopically place some form of a constricting band around a portion of the stomach to limit the amount of food eaten, decreases appetite and slow the process of digestion. There are several types of gastric banding surgery, include the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the adjustable gastric band surgical option and Vertical Banded Gastroplasty.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass places a band around a portion of the stomach to seal part of it off, and a part of the small intestine relocates to the smaller stomach section. This procedure limits the body's ability to absorb calories and decreases the amount of calories the patient can ingest. While open surgical options exist, laparoscopic surgery offers the fewest health risks. The American Society for Bariatric Surgery and the National Institutes of Health report that the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the most frequently performed weight loss surgery in the United States, and it is the most popular option for gastric banding.
Adjustable Gastric Band Surgery
Adjustable gastric band surgery remains the simplest form of weight loss surgery involving gastric banding. The surgery laparoscopically places a band around the upper part of the stomach, leaving a larger portion of the pouch below. The band can be externally adjusted by a physician to control the amount of food that passes from the upper part of the stomach to the lower part of the stomach. Benefits to this type of banding surgery include shorter hospital stay and its ability to be removed without permanently altering the anatomy.
Vertical Banded Gastroplasty
When the vertical banded gastroplasty occurs, a portion of the upper stomach receives staples combined with a band placed to restrict access to what becomes the new stomach pouch. While VBG safety features a low mortality rate and little risk of infection, physicians rarely opt for this gastric banding option because of the long-term probability of weight regain and severe heartburn, according to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.
References
- Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center: in New York City: Gastric Banding for Obesity
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery
- American Society for Bariatric Surgery: Brief History and Summary of Bariatric Surgery
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