Gastric Adjustable Band as a Retained Foreign Object: A Case Report

Retained gastric band port and tube 5 years after gastric band removal and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a case report

BACKGROUND

While LAGB has become uncommon in the bariatric surgery practice, band removal with or without revision surgery is still common. Retained postoperative foreign body, of which surgical sponges are the most common, is a rare condition. We report a rare case of retained gastric band port and the attached tube.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 31-year-old Caucasian female presented to the outpatient clinic, 5 years after her last surgery, complaining of a left upper quadrant abdominal mass over the last 2 years. She had a history of 2 weight loss operations. She had no significant family history nor smoking. CT of the abdomen and pelvis revealed a retained foreign body. On exploration, the port with 10 cm of the connected tube was found and removed through a small incision without laparotomy. The patient made an uneventful recovery.

CONCLUSION

A bariatric surgeon should be involved in the evaluation of any patient who complains of abdominal pain and/or palpable mass if she/he has a previous weight loss procedure because the bariatric surgeon is fully aware of the possible complications of the bariatric surgeries.

Retained Foreign Body After Adjustable Gastric Band Removal: a Case Series

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) has weight loss and associated obesity-related disease benefits. Well-recognised LABG complications lead to a higher re-operation rate when compared to other obesity surgeries and therefore potential for retained foreign body. By way of a case series, we have evaluated retained foreign body after the intended complete removal of a gastric band. Analysis focused on circumstances and similarities leading to retained foreign body. From the series, the most commonly retained band component is band tubing. Difficult surgery or surgery associated with intra-operative complications may lead to increased chances of retained gastric band. Strategies to prevent this complication should be implemented. Specifically, removal technique, equipment familiarisation and post removal inspection all play a role.