title: A case of epigastric pain in the ED: late mechanical complication after vertical banded gastroplasty.
abstract: A 50-year-old woman presented to our emergency department complaining of recurrent epigastric stabbing pain on eating of 1 month duration. She had a history of morbid obesity treated 13 years before with laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG). Diagnosis was made by radiology, after upper gastrointestinal series and abdominal unenhanced computed tomography. These demonstrated intragastric band migration, with outlet stenosis of narrowed stomach. Vertical banded gastroplasty is a miniinvasive approach that gives the benefits of shorter hospital stay, less postoperative pain, and quicker functional recovery. However, many complications are known and require recognition to be appropriately treated. In our case, the history and clinical presentation led to a high suspicion of intraabdominal pathology due to postoperative complication. Radiologic upper gastrointestinal investigation and computed tomography findings were then decisive to detect the intragastric band migration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriano M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Priola
authors.forename: Sandro M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Priola
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cataldi
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fava
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Volpicelli
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation