Banded Plication - The Newest Weight Loss Procedure

The New York Bariatric Group continues to work to advance the treatment of obesity.  The New York Bariatric Group is introducing a new study designed to evaluate gastric plication as a method of significantly improving weight loss with the adjustable gastric band.

The adjustable gastric band is a restrictive  only procedure that works by creating a small pouch of stomach above the band.  When following the proper eating regimen with the band appropriately adjusted, patients achieve satiety with much smaller volumes of food and lose weight.  The procedure is popular due to its low risk but its major downside is that patients lose weight more slowly with the adjustable gastric band than with gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy. 

The New York Bariatric Group is announcing the start of a research study comparing the effectiveness of adjustable gastric band to adjustable gastric band with gastric plication.

You have the opportunity to enroll in this study if you are considering adjustable gastric band surgery. 

During adjustable gastric band surgery, a silastic band containing a plastic sleeve is placed around the upper part of the stomach.  It is attached by tubing to a port that can be adjusted (tightened or loosened) at a later date in the office.  During adjustable gastric band with gastric plication, the procedure begins with the surgeon partially cutting the tissue and vascular attachments to the stomach along the greater curve (outside part of stomach) exposing the front and back of the stomach.  The surgeon then inserts the adjustable gastric band.  Once the band is inserted, the surgeon then folds the stomach below the band in on itself and uses stitches to keep the fold in place.  This procedure reduces the volume of the stomach, which reduces the capacity of the stomach for food.

Some small initial studies have suggested that adding gastric plication to the adjustable gastric band procedure accelerates weight loss and patients seem able to achieve weight loss that comes close to that of gastric bypass.  Gastric plication seems to reduce the need for frequent adjustments and reduces the risk of prolapse or slippage, one of the major complications associated with the adjustable gastric band.  However, further research is needed to insure that the weight loss holds long-term..

The gastric plication adds minimal additional risk to the adjustable gastric band.  Because there is no cutting or stapling of the stomach, the risk of leak is minimal.  In addition, the intestinal tract retains its normal continuity so the risk of malnutrition remains very low.

Like other bariatric procedures, LGCP is just a tool patients can use to achieve weight loss.  Life style changes that alter the way you think about and approach food remain critical to successful long term weight loss.  If you are interested in enrolling in this study, please ask your surgeon for further details.