Long-term results of silicone elastomer ring vertical gastroplasty for the treatment of morbid obesity.

This article reviews 305 silicone elastomer ring vertical gastroplasties that were used to treat morbid obesity. All patients underwent surgery 2 or more years ago. The average weight loss was 101 pounds, 35.7% of initial total body weight, or 60.8% of excess body weight. Fourteen patients failed to lose an adequate amount of weight and in four (1.3%) of these patients the surgery failed because the gastric partition disrupted; in these cases, another operation was required. There were no pulmonary emboli, gastric perforations, or deaths in this series. Banding of the vertical gastroplasty stoma with silicone elastomer rings is safe and effective and offers distinct technical advantages over other methods of banding.