Gastric band erosion: Alternative management

AbstractBackgroundObesity is a public health problem, for which the prevalence has increased worldwide at an alarming rate, affecting 1.7billion people in the world.ObjectiveTo describe the technique employed in incomplete penetration of gastric band where endoscopic management and/or primary closure is not feasible.Material and methodsLaparoscopic removal of gastric band was performed in five patients with incomplete penetrance using Foley catheterization in the perforation site that could lead to the development of a gastro-cutaneous fistula.Clinical casesThe cases presented include a leak that required surgical lavage with satisfactory outcome, and one patient developed stenosis 3 years after surgical management, which was resolved endoscopically. In all cases, the penetration site closed spontaneously.DiscussionGastric band erosion has been reported in 3.4% of cases. The reason for inserting a catheter is to create a controlled gastro-cutaneous fistula, allowing spontaneous closure.ConclusionsVarious techniques have been described: the totally endoscopic, hybrid techniques (endoscopic/laparoscopic) and completely laparoscopic. A technique is described here that is useful and successful in cases where the above-described treatments are not viable