Pseudo-achalasia following laparoscopically placed adjustable gastric banding

The complication of pseudo-achalasia may occur after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) in patients with normal band position and normal stomal width. We hypothesized that this complication occurs especially in patients with preexisting insufficiency of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), who show poor compliance secondary to lacking the sensation of satiety and who therefore also have insufficient weight loss at follow-up.

Early and late postoperative barium meal studies of 120 LAGB patients were retrospectively analyzed to identify patients who developed esophageal widening and dysmotility despite normal band position and normal stomal width. Results were compared with preoperative endoscopies, clinical findings, each patient's compliance with dietary instructions and postoperative weight loss.

9/120 patients developed pouch dilatation, esophageal widening and esophageal dysmotility as a late complication, despite normal band position and normal stomal width. All these patients had shown preexisting insufficiency of their LES endoscopically. They all showed bad compliance with dietary instruction, and they all abused their distal esophagus as an additional pouch. 7 of these patients presented with insufficient weight loss at follow-up, whereas of 3 other patients with pre-existing LES insufficiency who had shown good compliance, only 1 showed insufficient weight loss. Insufficient weight loss after 1 year was significantly more common in patients with pre-existing LES insufficiency (8/12 patients, 67%) than in patients with a competent LES (26/108 patients, 24%).

Patients with pre-existing LES insufficiency appear to be at risk for pouch dilatation and esophageal decompensation despite normal band position and normal stomal width. These patients are prone to show lack of satiety and poor compliance with dietary instruction, use of their lower esophagus as additional space for food, and tend to have insufficient weight loss. Preoperative manometry should be used to identify such patients, where the indication for gastric banding should be discussed very critically.