Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding

Gastric Banding :: Procedure Guide :: Risks and Complications :: Post Operative Instructions

Risks and Complications

• What are the risks?
• Specific risks of Lap-Band Surgery
• What are the possible complications?
• Problems directly related to the Lap-Band
• Is there a chance the device will need to be removed?

Risks, complications and adverse events you need to know about:

All surgical procedures have risks. When you decide on a procedure, you should know what the risks are.  Talk with your surgeon in detail about all the risks and complications that might arise. Then you will have the information you need to make a decision.

What are the risks?

Any surgical procedure, laparoscopic or open, requires the acceptance of some risk in order to gain the benefits sought from the operation. There are many risks associated with this surgery including those associated with obesity, history of embolism, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease or prior abdominal surgery, especially prior surgery on the stomach. The more common risks include: infection, bleeding, nerve injury, blood clots, heart attack, allergic reactions, and pneumonia. These risks can be serious and possibly fatal. The administration of anesthesia also involves risks, most importantly the rare risk of reaction to medications causing death.

Multiple studies show that LAP-BAND surgery may have fewer risks than other surgical treatments for obesity.

Specific risks of Lap-Band Surgeryy

• spleen or liver damage (sometimes requiring spleen removal)
• damage to major blood vessels
• perforation of the stomach or esophagus during surgery

What are the possible complications?

Patients can experience complications after surgery.  Most complications are not serious but some may require hospitalization and/or re-operation.

Problems directly related to the LAP-BAND

• There can be stomach slippage.
• The stomach pouch can enlarge.
• The stoma (stomach outlet) can be blocked by:
  1. food
  2. swelling
  3. the band being over-inflated
  4. stomach slippage
  5. stomach pouch twisting
  6. stomach pouch enlargement
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can occur.
• You may experience nausea and vomiting.
• There may be esophageal dilation and dysmotility caused by:
  1. the band being tightened too much
  2. stoma obstruction
  3. binge eating
  4. excessive vomiting

     Patients who have a weaker esophagus may be more likely to have this problem. A weaker esophagus is one that is not good at pushing food through. Tell your surgeon if you have difficulty swallowing. Then your surgeon can evaluate this.

• The band can erode into the stomach. This can happen any time after the surgery.
• The band and/or port may become infected.
• The band can spontaneously deflate because of leakage. That leakage can come from the band, the reservoir or the tubing that connects them.

Complications can cause reduced weight loss or weight gain. . Other complications may require more surgery to remove, reposition or replace the band. If any complications occur, you may need to stay in the hospital longer. You may also need to return to the hospital later.

Be sure to ask your surgeon about these possible risks and complications and any of the medical terms that you don't understand.