Prosthesis related sepsis following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is well-recognized as a superior method to achieving durable weight loss in the medium term when compared with non-surgical methods of weight loss. In this paper, we described the clinical presentation and outcomes of patients presenting with band or band-adjustment reservoir sepsis from our series from a single institution.

We conducted a retrospective review of prospectively collected clinical, anthropometric and biochemical data from patients who underwent LAGB placement over a five-year period at a metropolitan teaching hospital. Those patients requiring surgical intervention for prosthesis-related sepsis were included in the review.

Of the 445 patients in this series, 10 (2.2%) developed prosthesis sepsis and required operative intervention. Three (0.7%) presented with reservoir sepsis requiring removal of the reservoir. One had band erosion identified and the entire prosthesis removed. In seven (1.5%) of the patients, infections occurred at the gastric band. Two patients presented with purulent peritonitis and underwent immediate band removal. The remainder presented with band abscesses and either had their band removed (three patients) or left in position and the sepsis treated with drainage and antibiotics (two patients).

In our current series, a small proportion of LAGB patients developed prosthesis-related infection that typically required port or band removal and usually occurred early in the post-operative course. We have modified our prophylactic antibiotic regime and surgical technique as a result of this review. In selected cases of band infection, bands were salvaged with subsequent acceptable weight loss, suggesting that LAGB salvage in the presence of sepsis may be achievable in some patients.