Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB): Mechanism of Action, Technique, Complications, Outcomes, and Controversies

This section covers the unique techniques of surgery using laparoscopic gastric banding as an option for the treatment of obesity. The technique of inserting a gastric band laparoscopically introduced in the mid 1990s was instrumental in introducing minimal access surgery to the population suffering from obesity. It allowed surgeons for the first time to perform “key hole” surgery and observe their patients being discharged within 1–2 days following gastric band insertion. As such, the gastric band procedure gained popularity due to its simplicity and adjustability such that gastric banding represented 42% of the worldwide
bariatric surgery trend in 2008.

Since its introduction, there has been tremendous advancements in laparoscopic instruments, techniques, and alternative bariatric procedures. In particular, sleeve gastrectomy gained popularity again for its simplicity such that there was a downward trend in the gastric band procedures performed worldwide...