Gastric Band Surgery

With the gradual improvement of living standards, more and more people are suffering from obesity. Of course, there are many ways to lose weight. In addition to some common weight loss methods in our daily life, there is also a weight loss method for obesity, which is gastric band surgery. Gastric banding surgery has achieved relatively ideal results in the treatment of obesity and is welcomed by many obese patients.

Gastric band surgery for weight loss

After gastric banding, patients lose an average of 500 to 1000 grams of weight per week, and the more severely overweight the patient is before surgery, the faster they lose weight. The vast majority of patients lose 22-45 kg in the first year after surgery. Patients under 30 years old have better weight loss results. Domestic and foreign research results suggest that the weight loss range of LAGB is between 65-80% of the excess body weight (EWL, part of the body weight with BMI>23kg/m2). Patients should strictly record their physical data and make frequent fine-tuning of the gastric band, which is a prerequisite for the long-term success of the operation. During adjustment, the patient drinks the contrast agent, and the doctor uses fluoroscopy technology to observe the process of the contrast agent passing through the gastric band and entering the stomach. Based on this, the doctor injects or extracts liquid into the adjustment bag of the band to adjust the tightness of the gastric band. There is no strict requirement for the frequency of adjusting the gastric band, but it is generally performed every 3 months to 6 months.

Benefits of Gastric Banding

1. Low mortality rate: 2% at 30 days after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery; 1 in 2,000 at 30 days after gastric banding surgery.

2. The human stomach organ is not removed or damaged and is completely recoverable. In the United States, the rate of patients wishing to undergo gastric bypass surgery 15 years after gastric bypass surgery is quite high. Gastric banding does not remove any organs and can be easily recovered.

3. Short hospital stay and quick recovery.

4. No additional surgery is required to adjust the straps.

5. Fewer serious complications than gastric bypass surgery.

Disadvantages of gastric banding

1. A very small number of patients, about 2%, are unable to lose weight after surgery, and the mechanism is unknown.

2. The gastric band is an external implant with a complex structure and the potential for failure. The components of the gastric band include silicone rubber, titanium, etc. A small number of patients may experience rejection, infection, etc.

3. Gastric bands are made of silicone, which theoretically will age and is not suitable for lifelong wearing. After a certain number of years, surgery is required to remove it.

Common symptoms of gastric banding

1. Dumping Syndrome

2. Gastric acid reflux is usually caused by insufficient chewing of food by the patient, resulting in obstruction at the band, which is more common.

3. Gastric band displacement, especially common in obese patients with bulimia. Gastric peristalsis can cause the band to shift, which may result in loss of weight loss effect in mild cases and require further surgical adjustment in severe cases.

4. Band leakage: Band leakage is caused by defects in the band itself or damage to the band during or after surgery. Additional surgery may be needed to remove or replace the band.