Product Information

A Minimally Invasive Approach to the Treatment of Obesity

The LAP-BAND® System Adjustable Gastric Banding System is specially designed to limit food consumption in severely obese patients. The inflatable band forms a small gastric pouch and stoma, and can be adjusted to control the amount of food that can be consumed comfortably.

The LAP-BAND® System is designed to be placed laparoscopically and is intended for use by surgeons with advanced laparoscopic skills..

The laparoscopic placement of the LAP-BAND® System means that the procedure is done through very small incisions, with instruments passing through small tubes (ports), rather than having a large, open incision. And there is no cutting or stapling of the stomach. Because placing the LAP-BAND® System is typically performed via a minimally invasive procedure, patients are usually back home the day after the surgery. The shorter stay allows patients to resume their regular activities sooner and also places less strain on hospital resources.

Postoperative adjustments to the stoma can be made by changing the amount of saline in the band using a subcutaneous access port, eliminating the need for additional surgery to make adjustments to the band size.

Safe, Successful Weight Loss

The LAP-BAND® System Adjustable Gastric Banding System is an effective way for the morbidly obese patient to lose weight, with an average excess weight loss comparable to gastric bypass surgery at 5 years post-op. One year after surgery, excess weight loss can average 44%. And, the LAP-BAND® System has a perioperative severe complication rate of less than 1%.

Patients using the LAP-BAND® System continue to absorb nutrients from their meals because their gastrointestinal tract has not been drastically altered. Patients who receive gastric bypass surgery, on the other hand, may be required to take vitamin supplements for the rest of their lives since they may not absorb the proper amounts of nutrients.

Identifying the LAP-BAND® System Adjustable Gastric Banding System Patient Candidates

The LAP-BAND® System is indicated for use in morbidly obese patients who have:

• A BMI of at least 40, or a BMI of at least 35 with 1 or more severe comorbid conditions,
  or those who are 100 pounds or more over their estimated ideal weight
• Failed more conservative weight loss treatments, such as a medically supervised diet, exercise, and behavior modification programs
• Made a commitment to accept significant changes in their eating habits for the rest of
  their lives

What You Should Know About the Procedure

The LAP-BAND® System Adjustable Gastric Banding System is inserted laparoscopically. The slip-through buckle design of the LAP-BAND® System facilitates placing the band around the stomach. The procedure itself generally takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of experience the physician has working with the LAP-BAND® System.

Three techniques can be used to place the band: perigastric, where dissection starts on the lesser curve at the midpoint and continues behind the stomach toward the angle of His; pars flaccida, where dissection begins lateral to the midpoint in the space of the pars flaccida and continues over to the angle of His; and pars flaccida to perigastric, which begins with the pars flaccida technique, but ends with the band being placed from the angle of His through to the perigastric opening.

Perigastric technique	Pars flaccida technique	Pars flaccida to perigastric

Information on Follow-up and Aftercare

Because placing the LAP-BAND® System is typically performed via a minimally invasive procedure, surgery is performed as an outpatient and patients go home the same day. Patients usually can return to work in 1 to 2 days and resume regular activities.

The LAP-BAND® System Adjustable Gastric Banding System gives you the opportunity to monitor a patient’s progress through his or her weight loss experience. Patients typically visit their physicians 6 weeks after surgery to have the LAP-BAND® System adjusted for the first time. Subsequent visits continue every 6 weeks during which the stoma size can be adjusted―by injecting or removing saline through the access port―to help patients get just the right fit. The preformed circular shape of the LAP-BAND® System allows for controlled, even inflation and deflation to increase or decrease restriction. Adjustments are typically made for at least 1 year so healthy, continuous weight loss can be optimized.