Procedure for Gastric Banding

Gastric Banding Surgery

In the gastric banding surgery laparoscopy is done on the upper part of the stomach to position an adjustable silicone band for the purpose of weight loss. With this gastric band, the stomach is squeezed and a pouch approximately the size of an inch in created. After the lap band surgery, the stomach is able to take approximately an ounce of food.

Gastric Band Procedure

• In this weight loss surgery, general anesthesia is given to the patient.
• The surgery is done using a laparoscope (camera which is placed to visualize the internal structures in the stomach) is called laparoscopy.
• One to five small abdominal incisions are made. The surgeon places the endoscope and the instruments through these incisions needed to perform the surgery.
• A silicone band is placed around the upper stomach and for separating it from the lower part. Consequently, a small pouch with narrow opening into the larger section of the lower stomach is created.
• The lap band surgery might take 30 - 60 minutes depending on the surgeon?s experience.
• Post the surgery, after eating the small pouch which is created fills up fast. One simply gets a sense of feeling full even by eating small portions of food.

Indications for Gastric Band Surgery

The following patients are considered for the bariatric surgery:

• In patients with < 40 BMI
• In patients with BMI <30-40 associated with any one of the following obesity comorbidities:
  • Severe diabetes mellitus
  • Pickwickian syndrome
  • Obesity induced cardiomyopathy
  • Severe sleep apnoea
• Osteoarthritis symptoms which interfere with lifestyle

Contraindications for Gastric Band Surgery

These are some of the conditions in which the gastric band surgery is not recommended:

• Inability or unwillingness to follow recommendations of diet
• Stomach/intestinal disease/infection
• Substance abuse history
• Crohn disease
• Severe Oesophagitis
• Oesophageal/gastric varices
• Liver cirrhosis
• Portal hypertension
• History of a gastric perforation
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Chronic use of steroids/medications for suppressing the immunity
• Actively severe psychiatric disorder
• End stage organ diseases like:
  • Heart disease
  • Liver disorders
  • Lung disorders

Complications of Gastric Band Surgery

Following are some of the potential complications/side-effects seen in the gastric band surgery:

• This surgery in the rarest case can cause death (once in 3000 patients)
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Device adjustment problems like:

  Wound Infections	In 10% cases
  Minor bleeding

• Vitamin deficiencies

Results of Gastric Band Surgery

An overall 35-45% weight loss is seen in patients who have undergone the gastric band surgery.

Advantages of Gastric Band Surgery

• This is a minimal invasive procedure
• Safest procedure for weight loss
• This procedure is reversible and the stomach?s structure can be restored anytime to the normal size

Post-surgery Diet Instructions

Post-Op Dietary instructions as per stages of recovery in Gastric Banding surgery

Approximate Cost of Gastric Banding Surgery

The approximate cost of the gastric banding surgery is USD 5,000.