In vivo band manometry: a new access to band adjustment.

BACKGROUND By application of a newly developed device for invasive pressure measurements, we have investigated band adjustments monitored by in vivo intraband pressures. With access to the port of the gastric banding device, pressures can be recorded inside the band system at rest and during bolus application with different adjustments of the band. METHODS 25 patients (mean age 38.7, mean BMI 45.1, 80% women) had intraband pressure measurements at the first band adjustment 8.2 weeks (range 6 to 17) postoperatively. For this purpose, we adapted a pressure monitoring system with the TruWave disposable pressure transducer of Edwards. All patients underwent gastric banding using the Swedish adjustable gastric band (SAGB) by the pars flaccida technique. RESULTS In vivo intraband pressures differ from ex vivo intraband pressures. With increasing fill volume in vivo measurements show increasingly higher pressures than ex vivo measurements. This difference can mainly be attributed to the influence of the enclosed tissue. The in vivo intraband pressures correlate with the amount of outflow obstruction. CONCLUSION Intraband pressure measurement is an encouraging new access to gastric banding. It appears to be a feasible method to control band adjustment without need for x-ray studies in low pressure bands. We expect physiologically exact adjustments to achieve good weight loss and to prevent esophageal problems in the long term.