FDA Approves LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System for the Treatment of Severe Obesity
9/18/2001

Keith Jennings
706-272-6114

Dalton, GA— The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted Premarket Approval clearance for the LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System for the treatment of severe obesity. Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton, GA, is one of only two hospitals within five states to offer this new procedure.

The LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System is a less invasive approach to obesity surgery, filling the gap between non-surgical treatments (such as dieting, exercise and drugs) and the more invasive surgical procedures (such as stomach stapling or gastric bypass).

Jaime Ponce, MD, in conjunction with Hamilton Medical Center’s Weight Management Center, has participated in the FDA trial for the LAP-BAND procedure since its beginning in November 2000.

“The goal of this procedure is long-term weight loss achieved by reducing the capacity of the stomach,” said Dr. Ponce. “The silicone adjustable band component of the LAP-BAND system is placed around the upper part of the stomach, forming a small gastric pouch to limit the intake of food and slow the emptying process from the stomach into the intestines. This limits food consumption and creates an earlier feeling of fullness. No cutting or stapling of the stomach is required, and there is no need to by-pass portions of the stomach or intestines. The band is inflatable and connected to an access port placed close to the skin that allows surgeons to adjust the system to meet individual patient needs without additional surgery.”

Designed for laparoscopic or “keyhole” placement, the LAP-BAND procedure offers the advantages of reduced trauma, reduced post-operative pain, shortened hospital stay and quicker recovery. If the system needs to be removed for any reason, which is rare, the stomach generally returns to its original form. Patients who have the LAP-BAND procedure will still need to diet and exercise to maintain their weight loss.

Dr. Ponce, who has previously performed more than 100 of the LAPBAND procedures in Mexico, has performed an additional 25 procedures in Dalton as part of the trial. Since 1993, the LAPBAND has been used by over 60,000 patients worldwide and has a well-documented track record of safety and efficacy.

“With the recent FDA approval, more US patients are expected to have the surgery because more insurance companies will offer coverage for the procedure,” said Dr. Ponce. “It is estimated that 11 million Americans are candidates for the surgery and that 40,000 surgeries will be done in the U.S. each year. However, only 50 new centers are expected to be trained this year, therefore Hamilton’s Weight Management Center has a great opportunity to provide this service to patients from all over the southeast and other parts of the country. We have already performed the surgery on patients from as far away as Colorado. Our patients chose Hamilton because of the experience we have with this procedure.”

Surgical candidates for the LAP-BAND system must have a body-mass index (BMI) of more than 40 or more than 35 with other additional medical problems, have been overweight for more than five years, be between the ages of 18 and 60 years of age, and meet other medical requirements. The surgery is an outpatient procedure.

For more information on the LAP-BAND procedure or support group meetings, please call Hamilton’s Weight Management Center at 706-272-6665 or 888-517-0789 or visit www.hamiltonhealth.com/weight.

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