Vertical banded gastroplasty for morbid obesity

Abstract

Since its introduction in 1980, the vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) gained widespread popularity. This procedure provided a double advantage when compared with other bariatric techniques: Lower complication rate compared with that of malabsorptive procedures, minor technical complexity and the possibility of exploring the distal (remnant) stomach, when compared to gastric bypass. However, since the late 1980s this procedure faced significant criticism with changing trends in favor of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in Europe and Australia and gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion in the USA. © 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.