VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY (VBG), more commonly known as STOMACH STAPLING, is a restrictive surgical procedure in bariatric surgery designed to control a patient’s weight. VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY is also known as stomach stapling because staples, together with a band, are used to form a small pouch in the stomach. VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY was once the most popular procedure in bariatric surgery but has since been superseded by newer techniques, typically Gastric Bypass Surgery (GBS). However, it is still resorted to in extreme cases where patients are not considered suitable for GBS because of certain complications. VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY is considered an extremely serious and dangerous surgical procedure by the medical community. This bariatric procedure might be done with the assistance of a laparoscope when it is called LAPAROSCOPIC VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY.

What is the VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY Procedure?

In a VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY procedure the surgeon crafts out a small vertical stomach pouch to restrict the quantity of food that can enter the stomach. The pouch is formed by vertically stapling the upper stomach close to the esophagus on a line running roughly parallel to the stomach’s inner curve. At the base of the pouch there is a hole of approximately one-centimeter in diameter through which the contents of the pouch can exit into the stomach and from there to the gastrointestinal tract. This outlet is constrained by a band intended to delay the emptying of the food in the pouch. Since the size of the pouch is small, the patient gets a feeling of fullness soon after beginning to eat with only a very limited quantity of food. The band is typically made of polyurethane. Local anesthesia is used to sedate the patient undergoing a Stomach Stapling Operation. The patient will have to remain in hospital for 4 or 5 days after such operation.

Who is an ideal candidate for VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY?

VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY was designed for obese people to lose a significant quantity of weight to bring them to a healthy weight level and to maintain their reduced weight. The best candidates for this weight loss surgery are those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 and above. Based on this index a man would be roughly 100 pounds overweight and a woman 80 pounds. These are the criteria generally observed by the NIH and insurers for bariatric surgery. However if patients are suffering from other weight-related problems which are likely to place their lives at risk then a lower BMI of 35 might be considered. For all weight loss procedures it is necessary that the person must be considered morbidly obese and have tried all other ways to lose weight without success.

What about a Psychiatric Assessment of Obese People?

It is advisable for the patient to undergo psychological evaluation to establish his or her emotional stability. The procedure and all its implications should be carefully explained so that the patient does not harbor any unrealistic expectations after weight loss. The patient must be fully apprised of the lifetime lifestyle adjustments which will be required after surgery and the commitment necessary to ensure continued success of the procedure. At the same time the patient might be assessed to determine whether the cause of obesity stems from compulsive eating or some similar psychological imbalance. Compulsive eating and psychological disorders should be addressed differently where VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY is not the answer.

What are the Risks with VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY?    

In addition to the normal risks associated with any surgery under general anesthesia, the risks of Stomach Stapling Surgery are:

• Possibility of leakage or rupture in and around where the stomach is stapled
• Slippage or breakdown of the band or staples after some time
• Nausea and vomiting when eating
• Slow stretching of the stomach pouch because of persistent overeating. Overeating will be self-defeating for the procedure. Patients who have lost weight after VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY are more likely to regain it that with other bariatric procedures. The reason is partly because the digestive tract continues as before to absorb nutrients in food unlike in other malabsorptive bariatric surgical procedures. Foods like ice-creams and high calorie drinks will pass rapidly through the stomach pouch where the calories will be absorbed into the system.
• In extreme cases where patients experienced post surgery complications such as intestinal bleeding, nauseous or vomiting. Consult your physician immediately as it can be life threatening. You may even need to undergo Reverse Vertical Banded Gastroplasty Surgery to prevent further complications.

What can I expect after VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY?

During the first six months after surgery you can expect to lose weight rapidly. However to lose 50 percent of your target weight loss will take between 18 and 24 months. You can expect to feel better physically as well as psychologically with distinct improvement in blood sugar and blood pressure levels, stress incontinence and other obesity-related complications.

Reviews Of Stomach Stapling Surgery

• VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY has a high rate of failure. Most patients find it difficult to maintain their weight loss for five years following the procedure.
• There is an incidence, with all weight-loss procedures, of addiction transference. In many cases patients have replaced an earlier addiction to food with an addiction to alcohol.
• The plus factor with VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY is that the risk of vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition as is evident in malabsorptive weight loss procedures are negligible.
• Success with Stomach Stapling depends on the patient’s commitment to adhere to a lifetime plan of healthy eating with regular physical activity.