Because your stomach and intestines are not cut or permanently altered with this surgery, it is a very safe procedure, however laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is a major surgical procedure and complications can occur. These are not common but the quoted risk of dying from a gastric band is 1:1000 patients and is most often caused by a blood clot forming in the lung (pulmonary embolism). To prevent this we give you medication to help thin your blood and get you out of bed soon after your operation.
There is always the possibility of the surgeon encountering a technical difficulty at the time of operation. If your anatomy has been complicated by previous surgery and scarring, or if your liver is very large and fragile, it may not be possible to complete the operation by laparoscopic surgery and conversion to an open operation may be necessary. This does not have an effect on the band, but will delay your recovery time.
After laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, a problem can occur if the band moves and the small gastric pouch above the band becomes larger (this is called a “slip”). This can cause partial obstruction and vomiting and if the pouch enlargement is significant this will require repositioning of the band. This problem is thought to be more likely to occur if there has been repeated vomiting. This is the reason we insist on a liquid diet for the first month after the operation.
Other problems that may occur following gastric banding surgery include band erosion (the band can eat through the wall of the stomach), and problems with tubing leakage, or rotation or infection of the reservoir.
In the longer term, medical journals report a 10% - 15% chance of reoperation at some stage following gastric band surgery.
Despite the best management a small number of people fail to adjust to the new eating habits and don’t lose weight with a gastric band. In these circumstances removal of your band and revision surgery (eg. a gastric bypass) may be considered.
