title: Conservative management of intragastric migration of Swedish adjustable gastric band by endoscopic retrieval.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intragastric migration is a known complication of gastric banding for morbid obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Instead of immediate reoperation, complete migration of the Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band (SAGB) into the gastric lumen was awaited in 4 patients who were asymptomatic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After completed migration, the episternally placed access port was removed with the patient under local anesthesia, and the disconnected adjustable band was retrieved endoscopically. All 4 patients underwent rebanding with SAGB within 3 months after extraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With this procedure, patients who are asymptomatic can be spared laparotomy and possibly gastrostomy.
authors.affiliation: Hirslanden Clinic, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baldinger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mluench
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Ricklin
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Riedtmann
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Horber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000628:therapy*; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000628:therapy; D013270:Stomach