Lap Band Removal

Lap Band Removal

Lap band removal is required in about 9% of patients (fewer than 1 out of 10) who maintain continued interaction with their surgical team and follow established guidelines closely. For these patients, the band is removed as a result of:

• Inadequate weight loss (less than 25% of excess weight)
• Complications such as band erosion, band infection, band slippage, or intolerance to the band

Fortunately, removal of the band is a relatively straightforward procedure, and there are several options for converting to another weight loss procedure to maintain and improve long-term weight loss and health problems.

There are several reasons that a Lap Band removal may be required, including:

1. Lack of adequate weight loss (losing less than 25% to 30% of your excess weight) – cause of removal in up to 40% of patients who need to have their band removed.
2. Band erosion – occurs when the band actually grows into the stomach.
3. Band infection – if any infection cannot be healed with antibiotics, Lap Band removal may be necessary.
4. Band intolerance symptoms include excessive nausea/vomiting or a continuous feeling of discomfort/pain.
5. Band slippage – occurs when the lower part of the stomach “slips” up through the band, creating a bigger pouch above the band. Either removing fluid from the band or surgical repositioning is required to repair it, although band removal may be necessary.
6. Difficulty swallowing (also called “dysphagia”) esophageal dilais caused by eating too quickly, eating too much or not chewing food enough before swallowing. While it can usually be avoided by addressing these issues, some patients’ bodies simply can’t get over this problem, in which case band removal is required.
7. Esophageal Dysmotility and/or Dilatation essentially means that, as a result of the patient’s gastric band, the esophagus is no longer able to effectively transport food from the mouth to the stomach. Symptoms may include difficulty swallowing, regurgitation of food and/or pain.
8. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition resulting in episodes of gastroesophageal reflux, heartburn and potential damage to the esophagus. It also often leads to esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus that may damage the tissue).   Many methods exist to address band-related GERD, but if they are ineffective then the band will need to be removed to treat the issue.
9. Pouch dilation – refers to the enlarging of the stomach pouch that forms above the band. It can often be fixed by removing fluid from the band but sometimes requires reoperation.
10. Port infection – can occur in your abdomen at the port site. Lap Band removal will be required if the problem is chronic or not able to be healed by antibiotics.