Background: It has already been demonstrated that laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is a safe and effective alternative to other permanent bariatric surgery techniques. Although clinical complications have been managed through improvements in surgical techniques, port-related complications and adjustment process inefficiencies have persisted. To reduce and manage these issues, a new type of gastric band has been developed which uses telemetric technology to eliminate the use of hydraulic ports and simplify the overall gastric band adjustment procedure.
Methods: From June 2005 to October 2005, 37 patients were implanted in two German academic centers with the Easyband telemetrically adjustable gastric band (Endoart S.A., Lausanne, Switzerland), using standard gastric banding laparoscopic technique. Prospective data was collected and analyzed for a minimum of 6 months on all morbidly obese patients who underwent laparoscopic telemetrically adjustable gastric banding.
Results: Data on 37 patients was analyzed. The mean percent excess weight loss was 10.2% at 1 month, 21.6% at 3 months, and 29.4% at 6 months. In 12 hypertensive patients, the systolic blood pressure decreased from 143 +/- 24 mmHg at baseline to 131 +/- 10 mmHg after 6 months. Diastolic pressure did not change significantly. In all 5 patients with diagnosed type 2 diabetes, the fasting blood glucose normalized after 6 months (135 mg/dl at baseline, 81 mg/dl at month 6).
Conclusion: These early results of the new telemetrically adjustable gastric banding device indicate clinical safety and efficacy comparable to that achieved by other commercially available gastric bands. Additional multi-center studies with long-term follow-up are recommended to confirm the benefits of telemetrically adjustable gastric banding.