Abstract
From March 1984 to December 1990, 732 patients underwent vertical-banded gastroplasty for morbid obesity. Seventy-two patients developed anatomic obstruction of their gastric pouches. Twenty-six patients presented with channel angulation and 46 with stenosis of the gastric channel. The frequency of channel angulation increased with time (p < 0.05). All patients underwent attempted endoscopic dilatation. Failure of dilatation was more frequent in channel angulation: 23 of 26 patients (88%) presenting with angulation required revisional surgery compared to 6 of 46 patients (13%) presenting with stenosis (p < 0.01). Continued follow-up is necessary to evaluate the long-term risks of vertical-banded gastroplasty in the treatment of the morbidly obese.