Management of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band Erosion: A Case Report

Gastric banding was one of the first operations to gain popularity within the field of bariatric surgery. This case details one patient's presentation and subsequent management of gastric band erosion with the hope of guiding other physicians and supporting the decreased use of gastric banding. The patient, a 61-year-old Caucasian female, presented to the bariatric clinic complaining of a multiyear history of epigastric pain and acid reflux, which was refractory to treatment with proton pump inhibitors. She had a history of laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) placement in 2007. She was initially successful in achieving weight loss and maintained regular band adjustments but was lost to follow-up and regained a body mass index (BMI) of 41.59 kg/m². Evaluation with upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy was recommended and performed. This revealed a LAGB in its entirety with tubing within the gastric fundus. Removal with dual endoscopy and abdominal laparoscopy was recommended and scheduled. During attempts to remove the band using an endoscopic snare, significant difficulty was encountered. Ultimately, an endoscopic rat-tooth grasper was used to lyse the band and tubing into four sections for complete removal. The subcutaneous port of the band was successfully removed laparoscopically, and the patient was discharged from the operating room. She reported limited pain in the postoperative suite but was lost to follow-up regarding long-term symptom relief. This report describes the presentation and management of one patient's experience with a known complication of LAGB-band erosion. This complication necessitated two additional procedures with anesthesia and placed the patient at increased risk for esophageal perforation, complications related to sedation, and the development of abdominal adhesions. Her case aims to support the decreasing prevalence of LAGBs within bariatric surgery and hopes to guide other physicians challenged with the management of similar cases.