Laparoscopic gastroplasty. Technique and preliminary results in patients with morbid obesity.

Morbid obesity is an aesthetic, social and psychological problem, with characteristic morbidity and mortality. Surgical treatment has been developed due to the high failure rate of medical treatment. In our previous experience with 40 patients, open transverse gastroplasty reinforced with mesh, has been found to be a good procedure to deal with this problem, with very few postoperative complications. In March 1995 we started a prospective study to evaluate the feasibility and results of the same technique done laparoscopically. We operated on 10 morbid obesity patients with several failed medical treatments. Laparoscopic surgery was felt to be easier and faster than the open technique. Weight loss was similar to that in our previous patients with open surgery, but postoperative pain and complications were less frequent, and the aesthetic results were better. More patients and a longer follow-up will be needed to provide definitive conclusions.