Role of a minimally invasive approach in the management of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding postoperative complications

Hypothesis: Complications after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding as treatment for morbid obesity may require a major reintervention. A minimally invasive approach represents an attractive management alternative for such complications. Design: Prospective case series. Setting: Major academic medical and surgical center Patients: From January 1996 to July 2003, 47 patients who had undergone laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding were operated on again. Considering the causes for reoperation, the patients were divided into 4 groups: group A had major complications (n = 26); group B, minor complications (n = 11); group C, psychological problems (n = 6); and group D, insufficient weight loss (n = 4). Interventions: Forty-three procedures, 38 using general anesthesia (groups A, C, and D) and 5 using local anesthesia (group B), were performed. Main Outcome Measures: Feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of a minimally invasive approach in the treatment of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding complications. Results: In group A, 9 of 10 patients with irreversible gastric pouch dilatation and 15 of 16 with intragastric band migrations were treated laparoscopically. In group B, 5 ports were substituted and 2 reconnections of the catheter-port system were performed. In group C, 6 laparoscopic band removals were carried out. In group D, 4 laparoscopic revision procedures for insufficient weight loss were performed. The operative mortality was nil. The most frequent cause of reoperation was intragastric migration (37.2%). A minimally invasive approach was adopted in 94.7% of cases. Conclusion: Laparoscopy is safe and effective, even as a second operative procedure.