Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for morbid obesity.

Morbid obesity, with its accompanying human and monetary costs, is a serious and growing health problem worldwide. Surgical treatments are recognized as being effective, but until recently, the available surgical options entailed invasive techniques that permanently altered the gastrointestinal tract. In June 2001, the US Food and Drug Administration approved an adjustable gastric banding system that can be implanted laparoscopically for the treatment of morbid obesity. This article discusses laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, including patient selection and evaluation, perioperative care, and the importance of a team approach to patient management and follow-up care.