Page 55 - IFSO-History-Book-Digital-File

Scopinaro invited leading figures from IFSO, which had recently held its first congress in Prague
in1996 under the presidency of Professor Martin Fried. Angrisani focused on identifying and inviting
surgeons worldwide who were already performing laparoscopic surgery. The meeting gathered
more than 250 participants from 25 countries, with an outstanding faculty, for a two-and-a-half-day
program [Fig. 2]. The agenda covered all aspects of the modern multidisciplinary approach to MBS
patient selection and management.

Fig. 2. Countries represented at the 1st ISLOS, Naples, 1999.

Laparoscopic AGB was extensively discussed, including the Lap-Band placed via perigastric
dissection above the bursa omentalis, and the Swedish Band positioned using the pars flaccida
technique. A particularly interesting session focused on laparoscopic VBG. Originally developed by
Professor Edward Mason (US) via laparotomy, this operation, with a stapled but non-divided gastric
pouch, represented the precursor of modern sleeve gastrectomy.
At the time, several highly skilled teams in Italy and Europe were performing this complex procedure
laparoscopically. It involved delicate dissection along the lesser curvature of the stomach and the
angle of His. However, the original Mason technique could not be replicated laparoscopically due to
the lack of a thoraco-abdominal B-type stapler among minimally invasive instruments. This was a
limitation that, to our knowledge, still exists. Thus, the laparoscopic version used was the
modification proposed by Professor Lloyd MacLean, in which the gastric pouch was fully stapled and
divided from the excluded stomach. Both Mason and MacLean moderated the meeting session but
appeared somewhat detached from the technical debate. Despite prompting from participants,
discussion remained limited. Unfortunately, no debate meant no excitement.
The most remarkable session of the meeting was the invited lecture by Dr. Alan Wittgrove on “New
Technologies and Robotics in Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery.” Angrisani vividly remembers him
demonstrating a 3D camera helmet on stage, which he routinely used. In 1998, Angrisani had

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