What is Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band?

This procedure is done to treat obesity . Keyhole incisions are made in the abdomen. An adjustable band is placed around the stomach with the aid of a laparoscope (a tiny tool with a camera on it). The surgery causes weight loss by decreasing the amount of food that can pass into your stomach.

Adjustable Gastric Banding © 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

This surgery treats severe obesity. Doctors use a calculation called body mass index (BMI) to determine how overweight or obese you are. A normal BMI is 18.5-25.

This surgery is a weight loss option for people with:

• BMI greater than 40
• BMI 35-39.9 and a life-threatening condition (eg, heart disease, diabetes )
• BMI 35-39.9 and severe physical limitations that affect employment, mobility, and family life

The success of this surgery depends on your commitment and follow-up with your doctor. If lifestyle changes are made and maintained, the benefits of bariatric surgery include:

• Weight reduction
• Improvement in many obesity-related conditions (eg, glucose intolerance, diabetes, sleep apnea , high blood pressure , high cholesterol , arthritis, poor exercise...

Possible Complications

If you are planning to have this procedure, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Vitamin deficiencies—You will take a daily multivitamin for the rest of your life.
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Blood clots
• Vomiting
• Slipping or wearing away of the band
• Erosion of the band into the stomach (may require open surgical repair)
• Injury to other organs
• Irritation of the throat due to acid reflux
• Complications of general anesthesia
• Death (occurs in less than 0.5% of patients)

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Smoking
• Recent or chronic illness (eg, kidney disease)
• Diabetes
• Old age
• Heart or lung disease
• Bleeding or clotting disorders

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