ABSTRACT
Laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) is a relatively new surgical procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity. The LASGB device (Fig. 7.1) clearly has advantages over other forms of gastric banding since there is a lower risk of eroding the gastric wall and the vomiting is not as prevalent. The device encircles the proximal stomach and is connected by tubing to a reservoir implanted and secured to the abdominal fascia in the patients upper abdomen which can be accessed via a needle to inflate or deflate the band device. Thus, if vomiting develops as a result of band tightening in pursuit of weight loss, it may be relieved by band deflation should dietary counseling fail to alleviate the symptoms, avoiding reoperation. The LASGB procedure is clearly an easier laparoscopic procedure than laparoscopic gastric bypass.
