title: Avoiding postoperative complications with the LAP-BAND system.
abstract: The most frequently occurring complications associated with the LAP-BAND (INAMED Health, Santa Barbara, CA) include gastric prolapse, stoma obstruction, esophageal and gastric pouch dilatation, erosion, and access port problems. This article describes the causes of these complications and details some points for their prevention and treatment. As techniques for placement of the LAP-BAND have evolved, complication rates have declined. For example, occurrence of gastric prolapse was reduced from the initially reported rates of 22% to less than 5%. The emergence of many problems, such as gastric pouch dilatation or prolapse, can be minimized with proper operative technique and close postoperative management and follow-up. As with other major surgical procedures, particularly those performed in the bariatric population, complications associated with the LAP-BAND system are unavoidable but are rarely life-threatening if managed appropriately. Surgeons and patients should adopt strategies that will help avoid complications and be sensitive to any indication of their emergence.
authors.affiliation: San Jacinto Methodist Hospital, 4301 Garth Road, Suite 209, Baytown, Texas 77521, USA. drspivak@aol.com
authors.forename: Hadar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spivak
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Favretti
mesh_terms: D004106:Dilatation; D017219:Gastric Outlet Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000379:methods*; D006547:Hernia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054047:Surgical Stomas