What is Lap Band Slippage?

What are the symptoms of Lap Band Slippage?

What is the treatment for Lap Band Slippage?

What is the prevention taken to avoid lap band slippage?

Lap Band Slippage is one of the long term complications of lap band surgery and can be defined as “When the Lap band and the stomach pouch are both prolapsed”. It means that the lap band is shifting the position and enlarged stomach pouch has also shifted or twisted so that food does not go through the lap band into the rest of stomach. Due to this many other problems arises like pain, discomfort, decreased appetite and inability to eat or drink and vomiting. It does not occur all of a sudden but takes long time to develop.

It requires re-operation or removal of the band if the slippage is severe and nearly 5 percent of the lap band patient when the currently used technique known as pars flacida technique is used to implant the band. Care is taken as well to make the pouch above the lap band very small. Normal location of lap band is above the stomach.

Lap Band Slippage Symptoms

Slippage of lap band can cause nausea and vomiting. In extreme condition the stomach within or above the band may die and therefore the band needs to be removed. Slippage typically includes progressively worsening reflux, vomiting and epigastric complaints which may increase to sudden near total Dysphagia including saliva. The Upper GI series X-Ray will be right to diagnose the problem.

Treatment after Lap Band Slippage

If you have mild slippage then you can deflate the band, reinflate in one or two weeks. If there is moderate slippage then you can deflate the band, operate to reposition band. In case of the severe slippage of band you have to deflate the band and operate to remove the band.

Prevention from Lap Band Slippage

You can take the appropriate band placement by the surgeon. Another thing is to take the careful progression of diet by patient and no solid food for at least 4 weeks. For the first adjustment of band, wait until 6 weeks.