Staple-line disruption following vertical banded gastroplasty for morbid obesity

derwent vertical banded gastroplasty. Double-contrast radiographic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract was performed on all patients at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months post-operatively to assess the integrity of the staple line. At these same times, the weight of each patient was measured, so that the patients found to have staple-line disruption could be compared to those without disruption in terms of weight loss. Over the duration of the study, staple-line disruption was found in 6 patients (30%). All of these patients demonstrated satisfactory weight loss. Between the group of patients with staple-line disruption versus the group without disruption, weight loss did not differ significantly at any time up through 3 years post-operatively. In addition, in the patients with staple-line disruption. no clear symptomatology that might be associated with this complication was discovered.