Laparoscopic gastric banding in a kidney-pancreas transplant recipient with new onset type II diabetes mellitus associated with morbid obesity

Combined kidney-pancreas transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage diabetic nephropathy. Post-transplant weight gain increases the risk for post-transplant complications and death owing to cardiovascular events. Gastric banding is an established treatment for moderate morbid obesity. We report on a patient who experienced significant weight gain and developed type II diabetes mellitus following successful kidney-pancreas transplantation. He underwent laparoscopic gastric banding and initially had good weight loss. However, lack of compliance with dietary guidelines led to transient failure of weight loss therapy. With further adjustment of the gastric band good weight loss was achieved.