Gastroplasty in the treatment of morbid obesity

A series of 90 gastroplasty operations based on Eckhout's vertical banded procedure are described. The average weight loss at follow up 2 years postoperatively was 66%. There were no operative or late deaths nor any serious complications. The constricting Gore-Tex band had to be lengthened in 3 cases of outlet stenosis and shortened in another 3 cases of stomal dilatation. In one case the patient failed to lose weight due to a large initial pouch volume.