Laparoscopic gastric banding is a surgical procedure done to help patients lose weight. It involves placing a medical device such as the Lap-Band System by Allergan, Inc., around the top portion of the stomach, MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, explains. This ensures that the stomach can only hold small amounts of food at one time. Because of this, patients may experience gradual weight loss. Patients need to meet certain criteria to undergo surgical implantation of the Lap-Band system.
Description
The Lap-Band system by Allergan is made of a flexible ring and a long silicone tube that is attached to a port. The inner part of the ring is made of inflatable pillows and is the part of the system that is placed around the stomach. Also, the port is implanted below the skin of the abdomen. After the system is implanted, it is tightened or loosened by injection of saline solution into the inflatable pillows of the ring via the port. This is done by a physician to help patients find a fit that allows them to be full and comfortable as well.
Indications
In 2001, the U.S Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the Lap-Band System in the United States. According to the FDA, this system should be used on adult patients who have been severely obese for at least five years. Such candidates must also have been unsuccessful at losing weight with methods that did not involve surgery. To qualify for surgery with the Lap-Band system, patients must also be at least 100 lbs. over their estimated ideal weight or have a body mass index or BMI of at least 40. Also, patients with a BMI of at least 35 as well as one or more severe illnesses associated with obesity can have this surgery.
Contraindications
The Lap-Band system should not be used in patients who are not suitable candidates for surgery such as patients who have severe heart disease or infection, according to the FDA. Additionally, patients with stomach, intestinal or esophageal problems such as esophageal varices should not have this device implanted. Furthermore patients who cannot comply with the rules recommended by the physician after surgery, as well as those who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, should not have the Lap-Band system implanted.
Effects
The desired effect of the lap-band system is weight loss. The FDA reports that three years after Lap-Bands were implanted, the average weight loss observed in a study group was 36 percent of a patient's excess weight. Some patients lost over 75 percent of their excess body weight, while others lost at least 25 percent. Also, some patients experienced no weight loss at all.
Risks
According to Allergan,side effects common with Lap-Band surgery include slippage of the band, pain in the abdominal area, nausea, vomiting and heartburn. Other more serious risks include a punctured stomach during or after this surgical procedure.
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