Search Results

Height	ft	in
Weight	lbs

BMI Explained

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding

Compare Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding with other treatments for obesity

If you have tried diets, exercise and medications to lose weight and have never had long-term success, surgery may be a good solution to help you achieve a healthy weight and a healthier life. In fact, a recently published article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ, April 10, 2007) recommends bariatric or weight loss surgery as an acceptable option for individuals for whom all other conventional weight loss methods have failed.

To help you make an informed decision, we’ve compiled information about some of the bariatric surgical options available to you as treatments for obesity, with lists of advantages and disadvantages for each.

1. Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG) or “stomach stapling” is bariatric surgery that uses staples to reduce the amount your stomach can hold but doesn’t interfere with normal digestion of food and nutrients.
The VBG procedure is not offered at the Credit Valley Clinic.

Advantages	Disadvantages
When compared with Gastric Bypass it has a lower mortality rate, lower risk of leakage or intestinal obstruction, and is a simpler procedure. Nutrients and vitamins are fully absorbed.	It requires cutting and stapling of the stomach. A staple line disruption right after surgery can result in leakage, infection and even death. A later disruption can result in weight gain. Slower initial weight loss than Gastric Bypass. Non-adjustable and extremely difficult to reverse. VBG often does not maintain adequate weight loss and is now rarely performed

2. Biliopancreatic Diversion (BPD) shortens the digestive tract to limit the number of calories and nutrients that can be absorbed. It involves a more extreme alteration of your digestive process. In it, about ¾ of the stomach is removed, and the remaining stomach pouch is connected to the final segment of the small intestine. By diverting food to this new “limb,” the nutrients are separated from the bile and pancreatic enzymes that would break them down.
The BPD procedure is not offered at the Credit Valley Clinic.

Advantages

Disadvantages

Greatest amount of initial weight loss and highest total weight loss of any weight-loss surgery.
You can eat bigger meals because of the larger stomach pouch.

Requires cutting and stapling of the stomach and bowel.
The highest level of post-operative complications.
Absorption of essential nutrients is reduced – as a result, lifelong monitoring is required for malnutrition, anemia and bone disease.
Increased risk of intestinal irritation and ulcers.
Non-adjustable and extremely difficult to reverse.
“Dumping syndrome” can occur when the undigested contents of your stomach are transported or "dumped" into your small intestine too rapidly, causing abdominal cramps and nausea.
Highest mortality rate when compared to the other procedures.

3. Gastric Bypass reduces both the amount of food your stomach can hold and the number of calories it can absorb. First, the stomach is stapled to make a smaller pouch. Then most of the stomach and part of the intestines are bypassed by stapling a part of the intestine to the small stomach pouch. The result: you eat less and you absorb fewer nutrients.
The Gastric Bypass procedure is not offered at the Credit Valley Clinic.

Advantages

Disadvantages

Rapid initial weight loss, and higher total average weight loss than Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or VBG.
A minimally invasive approach is possible.

Requires cutting and stapling of the stomach and bowel.
More operative complications than Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding.
Absorption of essential nutrients is reduced, which causes medical complications.
“Dumping syndrome” can occur (chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain).
Non-adjustable and extremely difficult to reverse.
Higher mortality rate than Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or VBG.

4. The Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding procedure limits the amount your stomach can hold by placing an inflatable silicone band around the upper part of the stomach. The new, small upper stomach limits the amount of food you can consume at one time and a narrowed stomach outlet increases the time it takes for the stomach to empty. Overall, appetite is reduced and can be satisfied with smaller amounts of food, resulting is significant and sustained weight loss.

It is important to understand that Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding is only a tool to help you achieve long term weight loss. By itself, the band will not resolve morbid obesity. The amount of weight you lose is directly dependent on both the band and on your motivation and commitment to change your lifestyle and eating habits.

Advantages	Disadvantages
The least invasive surgical approach with the lowest risk of complications and lowest mortality rate. No stomach stapling, cutting or intestinal re-routing. Adjustable and reversible. Low risk of malnutrition.	Slower initial weight loss than Gastric Bypass. Requires an implanted medical device. Regular follow-ups are critical for optimal results. In some cases, effectiveness can be reduced due to band slippage.