Adjustable Gastric Banding (AGB): This is the generic term for the banding process, including both Bioenterics and Obtech banding systems.

Band: The generic term for the actual band used in the AGB process, including both Bioenterics and Obtech bands.

Bandster: A person who has undergone or is researching the LapBand or Swedish Adjustable Band as a Weight Loss Surgery. 2. Can be found on OneList.com Bandsters Listserv.

Barium swallow: An upper gastrointestinal series (barium swallow) is an X-ray test used to define the anatomy of the upper digestive tract. Women who are or may be pregnant should notify the doctor requesting the procedure and the radiology staff. The test involves filling the oesophagus, stomach, and small intestines with a white liquid material (barium).

Bioenterics Lap-Band: The LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB®) System is currently in clinical trials in the U.S., as a restrictive surgical option for the treatment of serious obesity. Restrictive obesity surgery is designed to aid in long-term weight loss by reducing the capacity of the stomach.

Body Mass Index (BMI): One of the anthropometric measures of body mass; it has the highest correlation with skinfold thickness or body density. The standard formula for calculating is (Weight in Kilograms) / (Height in Meters Squared) .

Clinical research trials: Research studies designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of medications or medical devices by monitoring their effects on large groups of people. Generally speaking, participants in the clinical trials have to complete more pre- and post-operative tests, wait longer for fills and be available for longitudinal data collection.Clinical medical trials sponsored by the U. S. Government (FDA) are listed on a web site of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Specifically for Bandsters this relates to Bioenterics Phase III FDA Clinical Trial. Currently there are two patient groups, (early)"A" and (current)"B" that have had the band installed in the US. Recently, Bioenterics parent company has just filed for a PMA (Pre-Market Approval) from the FDA for the Lap-Band, meaning that by the end of 2000 we should get final word on FDA approval.

Endoscopy, upper: A procedure that enables the examiner (usually a gastroenterologist) to examine the oesophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, and duodenum (first portion of small bowel) using a thin flexible tube (a scope) that can be looked through or seen on a TV monitor. Also known as oesophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD.

Excess Weight Loss (EWL): This is a measure of how much of your excess weight you've lost a various post-operative milestones. Traditionally, a 2/3rd EWL means that the surgery is a statistical success. It's important that you find out how Excess Weight is determined and what is considered a statistical success when reviewing research data or interviewing surgeons since there is no stead-fast rule about these measures although the goal weight is usually determined by BMI parameters.

Fill: A syringe injection of saline or similar substance into the submuscular port in order to increase the pressure of the band around the stomach. This is the process that allows patients to adjust the pressure of the band, thereby affecting how much food they are able to eat and how quickly the food drops into the lower stoma. Fills are usually first given 4-8 weeks post-op, but can occur sooner or later as the surgeon and patient see fit. Most patients find that they need several fills before feeling a significant level of restriction. A surgeon or fill technician may or may not require a fill to be done under fluroscopy.

Fluroscopy: A video x-ray procedure that makes it possible to see internal organs in motion. As far as banding goes, this usually involves swallowing a barium liquid and having a radiologist watch its progress to the lower stoma, to ensure that a patient isn't over-restricted. This is always done pre-operatively, and many surgeons (especially American surgeons in the FDA trials) require it during each fill.

Gastroplasty: Surgical treatment of the stomach or lower oesophagus used to decrease the size of the stomach. The procedure is used mainly in the treatment of morbid obesity and to correct defects in the lower oesophagus or the stomach. Along with AGB, there are other methods, including vertical (mesh) banded gastroplasty, silicone elastomer ring vertical gastroplasty and horizontal banded gastroplasty.

Iopamiro: (Iopamiro 200 ® , Astra Pharmaceuticals) This is a water-based 200 mg 3-iodine solution diluted in iopamidol solution that is used specifically to fill the Obtech band. The larger iodine molecules normally used for the x-ray of blood vessels which will not diffuse through the band.

Laparoscopy: A surgical procedure in which a tiny scope is inserted into the abdomen through a small incision(s). This procedure minimizes surgical risk, recovery time and long-term scarring.

Laparotomy: General term for (open) abdominal surgery.

Leak: A leak in the band can either be small or dramatic and treatments can range from more frequent fills to removal and replacement of the band. A leak is rarely dangerous, but it can decrease the efficacy of the band.

Liquid diet: An eating regime that only allows only food that can be drawn through a straw. This is often prescribed a few days pre-op, and from 1 to 4 weeks post-operatively. Often patients will go on a liquid diet after getting a fill as they can't not tolerate solid foods for several days.

Migration: (gastric perforation) A more serious, but rare, complication where the band cuts into the wall of the stomach. Often this can be attributed to the band placing too much pressure on the stomach and cutting off circulation in the affected areas. The usual remedy is releasing all pressure on the band to allow the stomach to heal. Removal of the band may also be necessary. According to the ILOST website, this has happened in .2% of their cases. You should always ask a potential surgeon if they have any patients who have experienced this.

Morbidity: A diseased condition or state, the incidence of a disease or of all diseases in a population. For our purposes, it can either be used in regards complications arising from AGB process or of obesity itself.

Mortality: The death rate. The ratio of the total number of deaths to the total population. For our purposes, it can either be used in regards complications arising from AGB process or of obesity itself.

Motility: The ability to move spontaneously. In regards to AGB, it means the ability of the esophagus to push food from the upper pouch through the stoma and into the lower stomach.,

Non-Steroid Anti Inflamatory Drugs (NSAIDs): A large group of anti-inflammatory agents that work by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins. Examples include: ibuprofen, ketoprofen, piroxicam, naproxen, sulindac, aspirin, choline subsalicylate, diflunisal, fenoprofen, indomethacin, meclofenamate salsalate, tolmetin and magnesium salicylate.. These are to be avoided post-operatively as they irritate the gastric walls. Surgeons usually recommend that patients use acetaminophen (paracetamol in the UK) for fever and pain.

Obtech Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band: The SAGB is very similar to the Bioenterics band, except that it is considered a low-pressure band. This means that it has a greater total volume than the Lap-Band, therefore needing more fluid to exert a similar amount of pressure on the stoma. It is not currently being tested in the United States and is only available abroad.

Plateau: A period of time, at least 2 to 4 weeks, whereby a Bandster maintains, instead of losing weight. It is common for post-ops 4-10 weeks out to experience a plateau before getting their first fill. Many Bandsters take a plateau at any point as a sign that they need to get another fill. Some people feel that bodies tend to plateau at weights they had previously maintained for some period of time in the past, but this is only been shown through anecdotal evidence at this point.

Port: The subtanceous dongle at the end of the tube connecting to the band. This is where the surgeon will inject fluid in order to increase pressure on the band. Many people can feel their ports under the skin -- either on the left side of their stomach or at their sternum -- especially as they lose weight. The area around the port is often tender for several weeks post-op and can become sore if the surround muscle is stretched or worked too vigorously.

Posterior stitch: A particular technique wherein the surgeon stitches the band around the back of the stomach. This technique is credited for reducing slippage rates and now seems to be the standard operating procedure for Lap-Band insertions.

Pouch: This is the 30ccs "upper stomach" that is created when the band draws the entire stomach into an hourglass shape. This is where your food will go after swallowing, where it will slowly pass through the stoma into the lower stomach and through the digestive tract.

Pre-operative testing: This is the battery of tests that determine the patient's physical health and fitness to undergo surgery. Usually this includes a full blood workup and cardiogram. It also generally includes a detailed diet and health history and can include a psychological examination in order to determine if AGB is the appropriate bariatric choice for the patient. Please consult with your surgeon to see what kind of pre-op testing s/he requires.

Restriction: This is the feeling of being able to eat only small amounts of food. Some Bandsters talk of 'passive' restriction when their band is empty, wherein they are able to feel full on less food but where they feel no pain if they overeat. As the band is filled, the tighter the restriction should feel. Many Bandsters report that it takes 2-4 fills before feeling restricted enough to lose weight at an appropriate rate.

Roux-en-Y (RNY): This is the most common form of gastric bypass surgery. Essentially, the surgeon cuts and staples the stomach into a 30cc pouch and then attaches the small intestine directly to this pouch, bypassing a good portion of the stomach (and duodenum). There are less common forms of gastric bypass, including the Duodenal Switch whereby the stomach is made smaller along its general curvature combined with a bypass of the biliopancreatic tract.

Slippage: This is where the band moves down the stomach, often causing significant pain to the patient. Slippage usually occurs if the band is too tight or if the patient frequently 'challenges' the band resulting in vomitting.

Stoma: Artificial openings between two cavities or canals. In this case, it is the passage from the upper pouch and the rest of the stomach. Often casually used in converstation to also mean the upper pouch.

Trocar: A surgical tool, usually with a triangular point, used for exploring tissues or for inserting the band. It is inserted with small punctures in the stomach when laparoscopically inserting the band.

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG): This is the most common restrictive bariatric procedure at this time. This is commonly known as stomach stapling, since it requires the surgeon to cut the stomach into a 30cc pouch and add a non-adjustable band around the stoma into the lower stomach. Many Bandsters and their surgeons believe that once the Lap-Band is approved in the US that this procedure will become obsolete.