Lap Band Complications Overview
An adjustable gastric band surgery or laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (Lap Band) is one of the minimally invasive weight loss surgeries.
This type of procedure is for morbidly obese patients who prefer the surgical route rather than opting for a healthy diet and exercise regime. During the procedure, the gastric band is affixed around the crown portion of the stomach.
The band helps to decrease the amount of food that can be consumed by offering a sense of ‘fullness’ to the patient. This surgery is one of the most common as it can be reversed with another keyhole procedure.
However, there are several gastric band complications that can arise from such procedures. Most patients suffering from obesity do not consider the lap band complications before opting for them.
Inaccurate Positioning of the Band
In some cases, the gastric band may not go all the way round the stomach which in effect, makes the surgery a failure.
This means that patients will be able to consume food as they did before and will continue to grow more obese.
Such a situation could be dangerous as there will be a foreign object in the body which serves no particular function and can potentially affect that of other organs.
Infection
Although the risk of infection is a complication in every surgical procedure, it is more so in a gastric band surgery. At times, the band may not be affixed properly or may be too tight around the stomach which can cause swelling and lesions.
There is every possibility that the lesions will get infected and cause irreversible damage to the stomach and intestines. Minor infections can be treated with antibiotics; however, if the infections become serious, a second surgery will have to be conducted.
Erosion of the Gastric Lap Band
This is one of the major lap band complications after procedure. Over time, the band can erode and shift from its affixed position.
This may cause internal bleeding and leakage of gastric content in the stomach. As there will be no obvious symptoms of this occurrence, the complication can be potentially fatal. Emergency surgery may have to be performed to save the patient.
Gastritis
In a lap band surgery, the muscles and walls of the stomach is being compromised to aid weight loss. This can cause irritations in the tissues of the stomach and can lead to swelling or gastritis.
This can be extremely uncomfortable for the patient who will constantly experience severe cramps and a feeling of being bloated.
