Adjustable gastric banding



             Restrictive gastric operations, such as an adjustable gastric banding procedure, serve only to restrict and decrease food intake and do not interfere with the normal digestive process. In this procedure, a hollow band made of special material is placed around the stomach near its upper end, creating the small pouch and a narrow passage into the larger remaining portion of the stomach. This small passage delays the emptying of food from the pouch and causes a feeling of fullness. The band can be tightened or loosened over time to change the size of the passage. Initially, the pouch holds about 1 ounce of food and later expands to 2-3 ounces.

LAPAROSCOPIC ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BANDING (Lap-Band, LAGB)
             Lap-Band procedure, places a band around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch to hold food. The band limits the amount of food you can eat, and increases the time it takes the intestines to digest the food. Your doctor can later adjust the band to allow food to pass more slowly or quickly through your digestive system. Possible complications include nausea, vomiting, and gastro-esophageal reflux. Final weight loss with gastric banding is not as much as with gastric bypass. However, it may be enough for many patients. You should talk to your physician about which procedure is best for you.

Indications
             Weight-loss surgery may be an option if you are very obese and have tried unsuccessfully to lose weight on diet and exercise programs and are unlikely to lose weight successfully with non-surgical methods.
             Gastric bypass surgery is not a "quick fix" for obesity. The surgery can take several hours and has risks and possible complications. For example, people can vomit after the surgery if they eat more than the new, small stomach can hold.
Your commitment to diet and exercise must be very strong because even after the surgery, you must stick to these lifestyle changes. Otherwise, you are likely to have complications from the surgery.

The procedure may be considered for obese individuals who have:
             A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more. BMI is a calculation based on height and weight that is used to determine whether you are of normal weight or are overweight. Someone with a BMI of 40 or more is at least 100 pounds over their recommended weight. A normal BMI is between 18.5 and 25.
             A BMI of 35 or more along with a life-threatening illness that can be made better with weight loss, such as sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

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Reference:  MedlinePlus ,ORlive