Gastroplasty with distal gastric bypass: a new and more successful weight loss operation for the morbidly obese.

Because of the unacceptable late failure rates associated with other surgical procedures for morbid obesity, the author has performed a new operation-vertical banded gastroplasty with distal gastric bypass-on 70 patients. In seven of these the gastroplasty stoma had to be debanded. The mean lowest loss of excess weight was 88% and the mean final loss of excess weight was 83% for the main group. The postoperative complication rate was acceptable and no late metabolic complications have been seen. This operation gives improved weight loss when compared with gastroplasty or gastric bypass alone and has none of the late complications associated with intestinal bypass.