Acute Presentation of Laparoscopic Gastric Band Erosion

Mohammed A. Bawahab, MD, FRCS (Canada), FASMBS

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Khalid, University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) is a well-established bariatric surgical procedure. LAGB surgery is associated long term with a significant chance for reoperation within 10 years of band placement; 2 causes of reoperation are band migration and erosion. LAGB migration is a common late complication of gastric band, with a reported incidence of as much as 11%. Herein we present a patient with LAGB erosion presenting as small bowel obstruction. In our patient, the LAGB had completely eroded into the stomach and migrated through the pylorus to the upper jejunum, resulting in a small bowel obstruction. We describe our laparoscopic approach and management of this complication, which requires a high index of suspicion.

Key Words: Obesity, Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB), Erosion, Complication, Small bowel obstruction.

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