Conversion from purely restrictive bariatric procedures to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

p a t p The two most common restrictive surgical procedures for reating morbid obesity are laparoscopic adjustable gastric anding (LAGB) and vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), ither open or laparoscopic. Restrictive procedures are easy o perform and have very low surgical morbidity and almost o surgical mortality. However, they often fail to achieve ufficient weight loss in the long term [1]. The laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) as in addition to the restrictive component several other echanisms to induce weight loss: a malabsorptive compoent, dumping syndrome, and reduction of appetite. Mean eight loss after gastric bypass (GBP) exceeds that of AGB and VBG in most comparative series [2–4]. When weight loss after a restrictive procedure is insuffiient, conversion to a GBP seems appropriate. It has been ecognized that revision surgery may be extremely challenging nd that it is associated with higher morbidity than primary rocedures [5]. The aim of this report is to show our surgical echnique and the results of 3 patients who were converted rom LAGB and laparoscopic VBG to an LRYGBP.