A study published in a recent issue of the medical journal Surgical Endoscopy found that vertical sleeve gastrectomy is an effective surgical option in certain medical circumstances when compared to other laparoscopic procedures. The study, conducted by Dr. Crystine M. Lee, Dr. Paul T. Cirangle, and Dr. Gregg H. Jossart, of the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, follows 216 patients who underwent vertical gastrectomy(also known as the sleeve gastrectomy). The mean patient age is 44.7 years, and 173 patients (80%) were female. The mean body preoperative weight and BMI (body mass index) was 302 lbs, and 49, respectively. The results of the study indicate that vertical gastrectomy weight loss surgery achieves significant weight loss, comparable to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and duodenal switch and superior to the LapBand®. The advantage of vertical gastrectomy is that it does not present the technical surgical challenges of the duodenal switch or the significant morbidity rate, which has been reported in duodenal switch to be as high as 23%. Additionally, vertical gastrectomy operations were shorter in duration than the duodenal switch and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedures, and vertical gastrectomy patients had, on average, a shorter len! gth of stay (1.9 days) versus the duodenal switch (3.2 days) and Roux-en-Y (2.8 days) patients. Dr. Gregg Jossart, one of the study's co-authors and a surgeon at the Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco, indicated that while more research is needed, the initial findings on vertical gastrectomy are very encouraging. "Vertical gastrectomy is a reasonable solution to the problem of super-obesity. It can usually be done laparoscopically, even in patients weighing over 500 lbs. The gastric restriction can cause these patients to lose more than 200 lbs, allowing significant improvement in health and resolution of associated medical problems such as diabetes and sleep apnea. It is also emerging as an excellent option for lower weight individuals who are considering the LapBand®." About Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco (LapSF) is a team of surgeons with a compassionate approach to patient care and a proven commitment to laparoscopic advancement for bariatric surgical procedures. Specializing in the four main bariatric procedures: roux-en-y gastric bypass, vertical sleeve gastrectomy, LapBand® and duodenal switch. LapSF has performed over 2,000 procedures, and is recognized by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) as a Center of Excellence.