Laparoscopic gastric banding for morbid obesity in a patient with situs inversus totalis

Abstract

We discuss the operative challenges posed by the advanced laparoscopic approach for a patient with situs inversus totalis. The patient was a morbidly obese woman with multiple co-morbidities related to her weight. The modifications in the surgical technique include the insertion of trocars according to the mirror image anatomy of the intra-abdominal organs under laparoscopic visualization. We suggest preoperative abdominal ultrasound in order to diagnose both gallbladder stones and also the reverse location of intra-abdominal organs that is rarely seen. A laparoscopic gastric banding, not a contradiction for situs inversus totalis, was performed successfully.