Laparoscopic revision of vertical banded gastroplasty to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: outcomes of 105 patients.

Background: Although vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) was endorsed by the 1991 National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference for the treatment of morbid obesity, it has largely been abandoned owing to the poor long-term weight loss and band-related complications. The objective of the present study was to review the outcomes of patients who had undergone laparoscopic conversion of VBG to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) for weight loss or dysphagia and gastroesophageal reflux.

Methods: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data from all patients who had undergone revision of VBG to RYGB was performed.

Effect of immunosuppression on patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Background: Immunocompromised patients are at high risk of medical complications. Immunosuppression might be a relative contraindication to bariatric surgery. We describe our experience with immunosuppressed patients undergoing bariatric surgery and review the safety, efficacy, results, and outcomes.

Obesity surgery and malignancy: our experience after 1500 cases.

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for cancer and is associated with increased mortality from a number of malignancies. We describe our experience with bariatric surgery patients with a history of malignancy and review the safety and outcomes of bariatric surgery in patients with a history of cancer.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from all patients diagnosed with a malignancy before, during, or after bariatric surgery.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and value of preoperative testing and treatment in patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Background: Previous studies have reported a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and a greater incidence of anastomotic ulcer in patients positive for H. pylori, leading to recommendations for routine preoperative screening. Our hypotheses were that the prevalence of H.