Gastric Band Implantation - Risks

The laparoscopic implantation of a gastric band is associated with a low rate of illness (morbidity) internationally. Among the possible general complications are the injury of other organs (spleen or liver) during the operation, bleeding, and infections. In addition, there may be post-operative wound healing disturbances, venal thrombosis, or lung problems. Problems directly related to the gastric band may also arise; for example, defects in the actual gastric band, migration of the gastric band into the stomach, infection of the band system, or acute or chronic pouch expansion. Some of the complications mentioned can entail a further procedure, which can also generally be carried out in a minimally invasive manner. Only in very rare cases do complications lead to band failure and thus treatment failure. When the line of sight to the organs during the laporoscopic procedure is too poor due to blood or similar causes, it may be necessary in some cases to elevate the procedure to the level of open surgery (opening of the stomach via a large incision). ^3,5,13

The doctor who is treating you will gladly clarify these and further possible risks in detail.

Sources:
¹ Dr. Thomas Manger, Senior Consultant at the Clinic for Surgery, University of Magedeburg Clinical Centre
² University of Bonn Clinical Centre
³ University Clinic for General and Transplantation Surgery in Innsbruck
⁴ University of Freiburg Clinical Centre
⁵ University of Giessen Clinical Centre and Marburg GmbH
⁶ University of Dusseldorf Clinical Centre
^7,8,11,12,13 BariatricEdge, Ethicon Endo-Surgery
⁹ German Society for Nutrition e.V.
¹⁰ Clinic at the Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen-Nuremberg