Technique for banding vertical gastroplasties.

The author describes a new technique for banding vertical gastroplasties, using polytetrafluoroethylene, in 177 patients. This material has several advantages over Marlex as a reinforcing material. It is inert, has no tendency to migrate and connective tissue invades its micropores holding it in place. Polytetrafluoroethylene 6 mm in diameter assumes an oval configuration and when placed around the stoma does not kink, collapse or impinge on the lumen. The leakage rate was only 1% and stomal narrowing occurred in only 1.7% of the patients. Follow-up films indicate that stomal size has remained stable in the patients followed up for 2 years. The technique has much to recommend it from the points of view of simplicity, economy and lack of complications associated with the grafting material.