BACKGROUND: An increasing number of surgeons with different levels of experience with laparoscopic surgery and open @entity28 surgery have started to perform laparoscopic implantation of the @entity3813 -Band. METHODS: An electronic @entity1 data sheet was created and was mailed and e-mailed to all surgeons performing laparoscopic adjustable @entity1346 gastric banding (LASGB) in Italy. @entity1 were recruited since January 1996. Data on 1,265 @entity3813 -Band System operated @entity1 (258 M/1,007 F; mean BMI 44.1, range 27.0-78.1; mean age 38, range 17-74 years) were collected from 23 surgeons performing this operation. RESULTS: Intra-operative mortality was absent. Post-operative mortality was 0.55% (7 @entity1 ) for causes not specifically related to LASGB implantation. The laparotomic conversion rate was 1.7% (22 @entity1 ). LASGB related complications occurred in 143 @entity1 (11.3%). Pouch dilatation was diagnosed in 65 (5.2%), and 28 (2.2%) of these underwent re-operation. Band erosion was observed in 24 @entity1 (1.9%). Port or connecting tube-port complications occurred in 54 @entity1 (4.2%), 12 of whom required revision under general anesthesia. Follow-up was obtained at 6, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48 months, and mean BMI was respectively 38.4, 35.1, 33.1, 30.2, 32.1 and 31.5. The percentage of @entity1 observed at each follow-up was > 60%. There was no intra-operative mortality and no complication-related mortality, with acceptable weight loss. CONCLUSION: The LASGB operation is safe and effective, and deserves wider use for treatment of morbid @entity28 .

Laparoscopic Italian experience with the XXXX -Band.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity1346 :: ('MESH:D012828', 'Chemical') :: ['silicone'] @entity3813 :: ('7939', 'Gene') :: ['Lap'] @entity28 :: ('MESH:D009765', 'Disease') :: ['obesity']
@entity3813 :: (7939,Gene) :: ['Lap']
