Adjustable gastric banding in an ambulatory surgery center

Background: We report our early experience with 343 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) as an outpatient procedure in a self-standing ambulatory surgery center. Methods: Between Apr 2003 and Feb 2005, data was collected prospectively on 343 consecutive patients who underwent LAGB as an outpatient. Results: There were 305 females (88.9%) and 38 males (11.1%), with mean age 43.5 years (+/- SD 9.9, range 19-67) and mean BMI 44.5 kg/m(2) (+/- SD 6.1, range 32.7-62.7). Mean operating-room time was 52.9 (16.3) minutes. 10 complications occurred in 9 patients (2.8%): 5 stoma occlusion, 3 port problems requiring port replacement, 1 superficial wound infection, and I colon perforation associated with adhesiolysis requiring band removal. 3 patients required admission to the hospital: 1 for nausea, 1 for observation after bloody nasogastric tube drainage, and 1 for dysphagia due to esophageal spasm. All 9 patients with complications recovered fully. 1-year weight loss data was available in 91 patients; mean percent excess weight lost (%EWL) at 1 year was 45.4% (17.6). Conclusions: LAGB has become an appropriate outpatient procedure in select patients.