Abstract

Background: Adjustable gastric band (AGB) is one of the earlier bariatric procedures that frequently require revision due to either failure of complications.
Objectives: To evaluate the indications and outcomes of laparoscopic removal of AGB as an isolated surgical procedure.
Methods and Materials: A retrospective review of charts for all patients who underwent laparoscopic removal of AGB was carried out. Patients who had other types of surgeries done during the same operation were excluded. Data about the indications of band removal and the early surgical outcomes were collected.
Results: Between January 2003 and October 2016, 1676 bariatric operations were done. Of those, 76 patients (4.5%) had laparoscopic removal of AGB and it was an isolated surgical procedure in 26 (34.2%) patients. The median age of this series was 39.5 years (19-67) and 73% were females. The indications for isolated LRAGB were; weight regain in 12 patients (46%), slippage of band in 9 patients (34.5%), band migration in 3 patients (11.5%) and infection of band in 2 patients (7.5%). There was no conversion to open surgery and no mortality associated with the procedure. The procedures were done electively in all except 2 patients who had acute gastric obstruction secondary to band slippage. Twenty-one patients had short (<48 hours) hospital stay while 5 patients, 2 with obstruction and 3 with infected bands, required longer hospital stay.
Conclusions: Isolated Laparoscopic removal of AGB is safe and requires short hospital stay in majority of patients. The commonest indication was weight regain however complications were also frequent. This makes AGB not a preferred option as weight reduction procedure.

Keywords: Laparoscopic removal of gastric band; Adjustable gastric band; Weight regain; Band erosion; Band slippage