Late gastric prolapse with pouch necrosis after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding

Bariatric Surgery Emergencies in Acute Care Surgery

Patients who have undergone bariatric surgery present unique challenges in the acute care surgery setting. This review includes the presentation, workup, and management of most common bariatric surgery emergencies encountered by acute care surgery.

Endoscopic treatment of gastric band prolapse

Complications of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) are well documented including migration, erosion, prolapse, infection, pouch dilatation, and gastric perforation. Band prolapse within the first 5 years after LAGB is observed in about 5% of cases, requiring an operative procedure. Here we report our experience of endoscopic treatment of band prolapses. From December 2007 to December 2013, 1,347 consecutive patients (202 male, 1,145 female) underwent LAGB; 47 patients had band prolapses and 7 were treated by endoscopy. All patients were women (median age, 34 years). The mean preoperative body mass index was 38.3 ± 2.9 kg/m2. The mean duration to band prolapse after LAGB was 10.6 ± 5.6 months. The mean duration of endoscopy was 12 ± 3 min. One patient had recurrence of the prolapse 3 months after the first endoscopy and was treated by endoscopy again. There was no operative procedure required and no mortality. Endoscopic treatment of band prolapses is effective without the need for an operative procedure.

Acutely slipped gastric band with gastric necrosis and massive haemorrhage

We present a case of acute gastric band slippage with gastric necrosis and massive haemoperitoneum necessitating an emergency surgery. The patient presented with an 8h history of dysphagia, vomiting and epigastric pain. Initial examination was unremarkable, but within 6h the patient suddenly deteriorated with a distended peritonitic abdomen. At laparotomy the patient was found to have gastric band slippage, a distended necrotic gastric pouch, a denuded spleen and a massive intraperitoneal haemorrhage of approximately 4l. A splenectomy was performed to control haemorrhage and sleeve gastrectomy to remove the necrotic pouch. The patient made an uneventful recovery. There are no reported cases of massive intraperitoneal haemorrhage or splenic involvement in cases of gastric band slippage. We believe that the gastric necrosis lead to short gastric and splenic vein thrombus and splenic outflow obstruction. This resulted in a subcapsular haematoma which subsequently ruptured causing acute deterioration.

Experimental in vivo canine model for gastric prolapse of laparoscopic adjustable gastric band system

BACKGROUND

The most prevalent long-term complications in patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) surgery are symmetric pouch dilation and gastric prolapse (slippage). However, no published data or a reliable model are available to evaluate the actual mechanism of band slippage or how to prevent it. The objective of the present study was to construct an animal model of anterior gastric band prolapse and to use this model to evaluate the effectiveness of various arrangements of gastrogastric sutures and gastric wraps in preventing prolapse.

METHODS

The esophagus of male mongrel dogs was accessed through the left chest, and a pressure transducer and an insufflation catheter were introduced. An AP-S Lap-Band (Allergan, Irvine, CA) filled to 10 cm(3) was placed using the pars flaccida technique. A standardized cut of meat was placed into the esophagus to simulate food impaction at a tight LAGB. After the placement of multiple different gastrogastric suture configurations, air was insufflated into the gastric pouch by way of the esophagus.

RESULTS

Prolapse, identical to that seen in clinical practice, was reliably reproduced in this model by increased esophageal pressure acting on a LAGB outlet obstruction. In addition, prolapse was reproduced with all gastrogastric configurations that did not secure the anterior gastric wall to within 1.5 cm of the lesser curve.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study support the theory that prolapse is caused by esophageal peristalsis against an occlusion at the level of the LAGB. In this canine model, gastrogastric sutures encompassing the anterior gastric wall were integral to preventing prolapse.

Gastric Slippage as an Emergency: Diagnosis and Management

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is an increasingly common procedure for morbid obesity. The most prevalent complication following LAGB is band slippage leading to gastric prolapse. These cases often present to the emergency department where surgeons need to appropriately diagnose and stabilize the patient, prior to any surgical intervention. It is imperative that surgeons at all levels of training implement an organized, effective acute management plan to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this life-threatening condition. This report highlights the case of a gastric banding patient who presented to an emergency department >1 year after a LAGB operation had been performed, with dysphagia. The diagnosis of gastric prolapse can be overlooked, with potentially serious consequences.