Adjustable gastric banding is becoming most popular restrictive procedure in the bariatric surgery. Reason for being so popular is its procedure which doesn’t require any cut and staple of body part and also not re-routing of any digestive system. Its reversibility feature makes it easy to reverse it any time from body. Although it is safe and reliable weight loss solution but there are some risks and complication which can make life complicated. Some of the complications don’t make so worry but some of them are really life threatening.

Gastric band erosion following after surgery is one of the gastric banding complications. This is the placement of adjustable gastric band (AGB) through the stomach wall in to stomach. Only 2% of patients are found with such complication. It was found more in early day when surgeon placed band too tightly but it is less because of the techniques used while placing it in stomach. This is actually a late-stage complication when gastric wall gets pressure on it due to band. Silicone belt penetrate gastric wall and make band inactive.

It varies from different factors like type of routine performed during follow up care and difference in the time period of two follow up care. Studies state that with the minimal follow up period like 12 month follow up period gets the band erosion chances high.

Effects

When band erodes in to the stomach, bacteria enters into the stomach. Saliva come out from the hole made on stomach, bacteria from the stomach come out and flow along with the band tubing in to the pocket around subcutaneous port. It causes infection to the tissue under the skin of the band port. When the band completely erode then food bypass around stomach and patient eat more.

Symptoms:

Some of the patients of Gastric band erosion are asymptomatic unless it is not diagnosis. With the regular follow up care you through the endoscopic diagnosis surgeon come to know about the band erosion. If follow up care not performed well or not diagnosis well then you will not know it at right time. But there are some symptoms which let you to know little knowledge of it. When band erode and penetrate through gastric wall you experience pain in stomach. Other symptoms are infection around the port. You will see red colored spot at the site of port and blood vomiting as the first signal of this complication. No restriction over the food is also considered as symptoms of gastric band erosion.

Diagnosis:

It is best diagnosis with upper GI technology. With the endoscopy procedure (test) surgeon lets to know band penetrate stomach wall (in the case of chronic infection). It can also be identify through CT scan. It is better to diagnosis otherwise even after removal of band infection will continue.

Cause:

Gastric band erosion caused due to the way surgery take place and the band used in the surgery. Nowadays low pressure adjustable gastric band is used to minimize the complications. Sometimes stomach damage during placing band (at the time of surgery) which make stomach layer weak and it helps in the band erosion. Intake of alcohol, smoking and coffee may also cause this problem.

Treatment

First of all take antibiotic to prevent bacterial infection. Port removed promptly and then band remove semi electively. Solution is removal of eroded band. Removal is quite different procedure. Some surgeon leave place after removal of band to get stomach its normal position or some proceeds with re-banding.

How to avoid:

Stop taking alcohol, smoking and coffee for the first three months after surgery. You should avoid taking carbonated drinks which may cause gas and increase in the size of stomach. After surgery to 5 to 6 weeks drink modified liquid. Take protein in high amount. You should eat food which is shredded in to food processor like meat, vegetables and salads. Take food in proper way. Some care will help you to avoid this