Adjustable Gastric Banding

The adjustable gastric band is a hollow, silicone ring, which is placed around the upper portion of the stomach and stitched into place. This creates a new small stomach pouch, with the larger part of the stomach below the band.  The band is connected to tubing, which is connected to a port placed beneath the skin during the surgery.  The food storage area of the stomach is greatly reduced. This procedure is done laparoscopically.

The adjustable gastric band also controls the stoma (opening) between the two parts of the stomach. The size of the stoma controls how quickly the food passes from the upper to lower part of the stomach. This lets you feel full sooner and gives the sensation of feeling full longer.  Also, the surgeon is able to change the size of the opening between the two parts of the stomach by doing a simple in office procedure called an adjustment.

An adjustment involves a simple injection through the skin into the port to add or remove fluid from the band. The adjustments control the feelings of fullness, which along with proper diet and exercise, cause weight loss.

Advantages:

• Least invasive of bariatric surgeries
  
• Adjustable
  
• Leaves gastrointestinal anatomy intact
  
• Minimal recovery
  
• Very low complication rate
  
• Outpatient or overnight stay

Disadvantages:

• Slower weight loss than with the gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy
  
• Need for frequent follow up
  
• No malabsorption or dumping
  
• Permanent port site/ band

Risks (immediately after surgery):

• Infection
  
• Bleeding
  
• Injury to other organs
  
• Leak
  
• Pneumonia
  
• Blood clots
  
• Cardiovascular

Risks (longer -term):

• Port infection
• Tube failure
• Band erosion
• Band slippage
• Vitamin deficiency
• Malnutrition