Follow-up of Lap-Band complications.

Background: Proximal gastric pouch dilation (PGPD) and band dislocation (BD) are the most frequent complications of laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB).

Methods: Conservative treatment of PGPD and BD was attempted in all patients by deflation of the band. In the case of failure, laparoscopic exploration was performed.

Results: From January 1996 to July 1998, 8 of 40 patients who underwent LASGB experienced PGPD (n = 7) or BD (n = 1). Debanding was performed in 3 patients with PGPD, while in 4 the pouch dilation was successfully treated with deflation of the band. Two patients (PGPD and BD) were treated with band repositioning. Weight loss was not influenced in patients treated conservatively, compared with patients who did not experience complications.

Conclusions: PGPD and BD are not always responsible for band failure in LASGB. Conservative treatment can be successful, and repositioning of the band is feasible in selected cases.