Figure 4. The band applied around the fundus. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 31.3 years (range 16-49). The mean BMI was 44.2 Kg/m2. All procedures were com- pleted laparoscopically. The conversion rate is 0%. The mean operative time was 152 minutes (range 75-300). Two patients had a small hiatus hernia which made the band insertion more difficult but still successful. The morbidity rate was 15.32% (6/39) and there was no mortality in this series. Thirty-three patients needed band adjustment over the fol- low-up period. There were 52 injections and only one deflation done. Nineteen patients needed inflation only once, while in nine patients inflation was done twice. In the remaining five patients, the band was injected with saline three times. One patient from this last group need- ed deflation when she suffered from repeated vomiting after the last injection. A gastric series confirmed the tight stoma and showed the improvement after deflation of the band. Vomiting rapidly disappeared afterwards. Figure 5. The proximal pouch in a gastric study. The mean hospital stay was 2.7 days (range 2-7). Table 1 shows the early and late complications encountered in this series. The patient who suffered from pulmonary embolism stayed in the hospital for seven days. The mean follow-up period was 6.7 months (range 2-10). One patient failed to show up for follow-up seven months after the procedure. Table 2 summarizes the changes in BMI three and six months after the procedure. Twenty-eight patients were valid for evaluation after six months. In two patients the band had to be unlocked, one in the Morbidity Pulmonary embolism Wound sepsis Stoma obstruction Port incisional hernia Total Table 1. Perioperative and Postoperative Complications. Number (%) 1 (2.56) 2 (5.10) 2 (5.10) 1 (2.56) 6 (15.32) JSLS Outcome Treated by anticoagulants Treated conservatively Band unlocked Repaired successfully (1998)2:57-61 59