Hand-assisted laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty: Early results

Background: Minimally invasive hand-port-assisted laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty has the potential to reduce postoperative complications after bariatric surgery. Methods: We analyzed the postoperative course of 46 hand-port-assisted laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasties (LVBG) completed between January 1998 and April 1999. Results: The operating time for the LVBG was shorter (140.8 ± 6.0 vs 180.2 ± 6.3 min; p < 0.05). Individuals were able to ambulate sooner (1.36 ± 0.09 vs 2.44 ± 0.16 days; p < 0.05), and start oral intake earlier (2.7 ± 0.27 vs 3.7 ± 0.17 days; p < 0.05) than the open vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) controls. Three staple line leaks were detected in this group. Two leaks resolved without clinical sequelae, but one patient developed intraabdominal sepsis. This complication extended the average hospital stay to 6.8 ± 2.00 days, as compared to 7.71 ± 0.18 days for historical controls. By discounting this patient from the analysis, we arrive at a more representative length of hospitalization of 4.82 ± 0.34 days (p < 0.05). Conclusions: LVBG offers a good alternative to the standard open VBG. Although this procedure has a relatively short learning curve, it should be done at centers with an interest in bariatric surgery.