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Category: complication of lap Band

Long Term Complications of Adjustable Gastric Banding

October 17, 2017 6:35 am

It is interesting to encounter patients who are still being recommended for Lap Band placement to treat morbid obesity. There is a vast body of scientific evidence supporting that Lap Band not only does not result in a sustained weight loss for majority of the patients, but that it results in significant long term complications for some.

One of the complications is a significant stricture (narrowing) where the band is located even when it is completely empty. This is cause by:

1- either scarring of the tissue around that band causing a “belt” effect around the stomach, or

Long Term Complications of Adjustable Gastric Banding
Stricture of a deflated AP-10cc band 2-Slipped band.
Long Term Complications of Adjustable Gastric Banding
Partially slipped band

There are numerous other complications that are associated with Adjustable Gastric Bands that encompass a wide range of areas that are not discussed in this blog. This recent article (yes another one) outlines the dismal long term outcome of the Adjustable Gastric banding- Buyer Beware.

https://www.dsfacts.com/pdf/agb-long-term-results-1506834076.pdf

Gastric Band Complications

June 21, 2017 10:22 am

For years, we have seen patients who have had Adjustable gastric bands placed and continue to suffer from the complications associated with it. Gastric Band complications include erosion, persistent nausea, vomiting abdominal pain, inadequate weight loss and weight regain, etc. . Unfortunately, when seeking help, they are often told that this never happens to others and that complications are a rare occurrence. Let’s remember that the Adjustable Gastric Band was promoted and sold as a procedure with almost no down side, low risk and easily revisable!

There is an unfounded expectation that the band can be deflated and all the Gastric Band complications will resolve. This could not be any further from the truth. The reality is that there are patients whose symptoms may somewhat improve but will continue to have the abdominal pain, the nausea and or vomiting-albreit, not to the same intensity. There are several Gastric Band complications that are considered emergency situations that require immediate attention by a physician.

Our position has always been, and continues to be, that all Adjustable Gastric Bands should be removed by a surgeon who is experienced with the Gastric Band complications and revisions.

Gastric Band Complications article
Gastric Band Complications article
Gastric Band Complications article
Gastric Band Complications article
Gastric Band Complications article
Gastric Band Complications article

Curved Adjustable Gastric Band Discontinued

May 19, 2016 11:19 am

The Curved Adjustable Gastric Band will be discontinued. Johnson and Johnson, the parent company of the Ethicon, is removing the Curved adjustable Gastric Band from its’ product line. This particular band is known as the Realize Band launched by Johnson & Johnson and did not gain much traction. The number of Adjustable gastric band placements have gone down significantly as the data have shown poor outcome over long term and a high complication and re-operative rates.

lap-band
lap-band

The following link is a copy of the letter from Ethicon Johnson and Johnson regarding the Curved Adjustable Gastric Bands Discontinuation: Realize Band removed from the Market.

Surgical Outcomes

October 02, 2015 10:10 am

In a recent review article  published in the September 2015- Volume 42:10 of General Surgery News,  the surgical outcomes of different procedures were summarized. There were evaluated based on a number of measures, including re-operation rates. So interesting to note that the re-operation rate of the duodenal switch is the lowest of all surgical procedures.

Screen-Shot-2015-09-29-at-8.39

Adjustable gastric banding had the highest reported re-operation rate. To be noted is the longer the time lapse the higher the need for re-operation for the band.

Original article here.

Screen-Shot-2015-09-29-at-8.35

Adjustable Gastric Band Removal & Hiatal Hernia Repair

April 21, 2015 6:30 pm

As it is a recurrent theme, a patient presents with a band that was placed years ago with marginal weight loss over a short period of time. Multiple office visits to the same center for band adjustments, which only results in worsening nausea, vomiting and reflux to the point of having difficulty with taking fluids in. The irony was that the patient was being blamed for the symptoms as to “…eating the wrong food, …eating too much, etc” The patient presented to the Emergency Room and was taken to the Operating Room within few hours for a partially slipped band and a Hiatal Hernia was also identified. The adjustable gastric band was removed and the Hiatal hernia was repaired.

Screen-Shot-2015-04-16-at-12
Screen-Shot-2015-04-16-at-12.10

The band in place and after being taken down

Screen-Shot-2015-04-16-at-12.10-1
Screen-Shot-2015-04-16-at-12.1012

The dissection of the wrap over the band that shows erosion

Screen-Shot-2015-04-16-at-12.11

Part of the hiatal hernia repair.

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The band and the port removed.

Shared Success Story- Odessa D.

April 07, 2015 10:20 am

My name is Odessa D. I am going to talk about my weight loss journey with the lap band which started in 2006. At my heaviest I weighed 270 pounds and was a size 24 waist. I had high blood pressure, was a border line diabetic, had lower back pain, I had no energy, I was tired all the time, and I had sleep apnea.

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My family doctor had suggested weight loss surgery but I was hesitant because I was afraid of surgery. Until one night my 8 year old daughter found me not breathing in my sleep. I made the decision to go through with the surgery.

Prior to surgery I did as much research as I could about the lap band. At the time I felt it was the right decision. On the day of the surgery everything went well. The first few months were great. I was losing weight, feeling good, feeling happy, and healthier then I have in years.

Then it began, all the symptoms of a slipped band. I started vomiting, nausea, acid reflux, and I was having trouble drinking and eating on a daily basis. My doctor confirmed it was a slipped band. We decided to replace the band because I was still overweight. On day of surgery I weighed 210 lbs.

After a month I started having symptoms of a slipped band. My doctor performed x-rays but everything looked fine. After 2 years with these symptoms and numerous doctor visits and x-rays I just gave up and learned to live with it. In 2 years I lost 4 lbs. My high blood pressure and sleep apnea came back. I finally decided to get the lap band removed. I wanted my life back and if that meant gaining the weight back that I lost then I was willing to make that sacrifice.

Dr. Keshishian was referred to me by 2 of his past patients. From the moment I walked into his office I was already at ease. When I first met Dr. Keshishian, I knew I was in good hands and I knew he could help me. He confirmed I had another slipped band and a detached port. At this point we discussed removing the lap band and switching to the Sleeve Gastrectomy. Finally everything was going to be fixed and everything was going to be right.

I can’t express how much my life has improved since removing the second band and switching to the sleeve. I have lost 46 pounds in 9 months. I now weigh 160 pounds and wear a size 8 waist. Now I look forward to each and every day with joy and pleasure knowing I don’t have to deal with a bad band and all the horrible symptoms that came with it.

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Since the surgery and losing more weight I have been very active. I go hiking almost every weekend. I have literally climbed a mountain! I did my first 5k mud obstacle course in which my second 5k is in October. I even have a purple Mohawk! I have 100% confidence in myself and in everything that I do. My life has greatly improved since the sleeve. All thanks to Dr. Keshishian. It has been a very bumpy road with my weight loss journey but Dr. Keshishian has smoothed out the bumps and I plan on traveling the distance with many adventures along the way.

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I would like to leave a huge “Thank You” to Dr. Keshishian and his staff. Thank you for making me feel welcomed, being friendly, making me feel comfortable, and especially for giving my life back to me. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me and my family!

Thank you Dr. Keshishian and staff!

Odessa D.

Erosion of Adjustable Gastric Band

February 17, 2015 8:22 pm

Adjustable gastric band has been promoted as a minimally invasive procedure. The long term data has proven this not to be the case. One of the complications is erosion of Adjustable Gastric Band. The adjustable gastric band results in the least amount of weight loss, as well as the lowest rate of resolution of the co-morbidities of all weight loss surgical procedures. As for the minimally invasive claim of the AGB, one has to also consider all the adjustments, the radiation exposure related to the upper GI and X-rays, as well as the upper endoscopies that are necessary to maintain a band.  I would argue that an average band is much more invasive when one accounts for the total number of procedure that are done on a band patient.

Other complications arise, when, not if, a band needs to be surgical revised or removed. Band removal requires an extensive amount of scar tissue dissection to expose the band before it can be removed. This is an example of a patient with erosion of the band.

Erosion of Adjustable Gastric Band
Erosion of Adjustable Gastric Band

Note the very thick scar tissue that is formed around the band (the white tissue on the left lower  corner)

Erosion of Adjustable Gastric Band
Erosion of Adjustable Gastric Band

Erosion of Gastric Band

November 30, 2014 5:03 pm

Gastric bands are restrictive rings placed around the top part of the stomach, close to the junction of the esophagus. Their mechanism of action is to create a small tight band to restrict the flow of the food into the stomach. The theory has been that the band will decrease the time food travels down past the narrowing thereby eating less with the end result of weight loss. One of the many complications from the band is erosion of the band into the lumen of the stomach. This results in the patient presenting with nausea, vomiting and some patients develop abdominal accesses. This may present itself with symptoms of abdominal pain, fever, and redness at the port site under the skin.

ring-Errosion
ring-Errosion

The treatment for this is urgent removal of the band and repair of the erosion/ulceration. Patients who are contemplating a revision to another weight loss surgical procedure are best advised to stage the procedure because of the potential for leak from the repair site. Almost all of these procedures can be done laparoscopically.

Adjustable Gastric Band Easily Reversible?

November 24, 2014 3:25 pm

The Adjustable Gastric Band  (AGB) procedures have been advertised as “easily reversible” minimally invasive procedures. A point of interest is why doesn’t anyone ask the question, “Why would a successful device and/or procedure need to be revised or removed?”

The long term success data shows that the AGB procedure is the most inferior of all bariatric  procedures. It is important, that when looking at the published data,  special attention is given to the definitions in that particular study. An example would be that if a study defines “successful outcomes as weight loss for 30 days!” then all procedure will be successful.

The following is an example of a patient who had the Lap Band (R) a several years ago in another institution. She was seen for surgical follow up with minimal weight loss over a short period of time. She then developed the typical complications of the band, namely the upper abdominal pain, reflux, inability to swallow solids, persistent nausea and vomiting. Her symptoms were all “worked up” and  was told that all the studies were normal.  All of her  symptoms were contributed to her eating habits, even though they persisted after the Lap Band (R) was completely empty.

The patient then presented n our office for a second opinion. After being seen in our office and having a full work up, she had the Lap Band removed and was revised to a Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy. She had complete resolution of all of her prior presenting symptoms.

Adjustable Gastric Band Easily Reversible?
Adjustable Gastric Band Easily Reversible?
Pictured is the LapBand being dissected. There is significant scarring that has to be dissected to expose the band.
Adjustable Gastric Band Easily Reversible?
Adjustable Gastric Band Easily Reversible?
With the band removed a very thick band of scar tissue is exposed. This is a typical outcome- and it explains why most patients continue to experience the same symptoms even with the band completely empty.
Adjustable Gastric Band Easily Reversible?
Adjustable Gastric Band Easily Reversible?
The thick scar tissue must be dissected and removed to allow for the underlying tissue to return to near normal anatomy. The scar tissue act like a restrictive band. If this scar tissue is not removed the patient will continue to have problem after the band is removed.
Hopefully this will reassure patients who are having problems with the band after it’s reservoir is emptied. Scar tissue formation under the band is most likely the contributing factor to the continued and significant symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and reflux.  If you are having continued symptoms after your band has been deflated seek other surgical opinions.