It won't happen to me... Or will it??????

Poodles · January 21, 2006

I have been visiting the forum for a few months now. I have completed all the pre-surgery things needed for my doctor. Now just waiting patiently for days to pass and my required doctor visits to be posted. As I read the daily posts, I think to myself. "Oh that won't happen to me."

My fill will work perfectly the first time. My band will not be rejected. My band will not cause ME to PB. My band will not erode into my stomach. I will heal in a day, be able to lose weight like a rabbit, and love my band instantly. But in reality it seems that there are alot more complications than that.

From the Inamed site:"Patients can experience complications after surgery. Most complications are not serious but some may require hospitalization and/or re-operation. In the United States clinical study, with 3-year follow-up reported, 88% of the 299 patients had one or more adverse events, ranging from mild, moderate, to severe. Nausea and vomiting (51%), gastroesophageal reflux (regurgitation) (34%), band slippage/pouch dilatation (24%) and stoma obstruction (stomach-band outlet blockage) (14%) were the most common post-operative complications. In the study, 25% of the patients had their band systems removed, two-thirds of which were following adverse events. Esophageal dilatation or dysmotility (poor esophageal function) occurred in 11% of patients, the long-term effects of which are currently unknown. Constipation, diarrhea and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) occurred in 9% of the patients. In 9% of the patients, a second surgery was needed to fix a problem with the band or initial surgery. In 9% of the patients, there was an additional procedure to fix a leaking or twisted access port. The access port design has been improved. Four out of 299 patients (1.3%) had their bands erode into their stomachs. These bands needed to be removed in a second operation. Surgical techniques have evolved to reduce slippage. Surgeons with more laparoscopic experience and more experience with these procedures report fewer complications."

Does anyone else have more recent data with a wider range? Are 88% of people doomed to have complications?

Oh, I don't want it to happen to me...

NeenBand · January 21, 2006

Jeebus, that is NOT good odds!

"Esophageal dilatation or dysmotility (poor esophageal function) occurred in 11% of patients, the long-term effects of which are currently unknown."

:-o

Poodles · January 22, 2006

Ok, so I have gone to the ends of the internet looking for up to date information on the lap band. All quote the previous research c/p'd above. On another WLS site they say that this information was quite negative because the surgeons were learning, and the devices were of poor quality. Now, I have no research to support that. But the research above was with 200+ patients studied for three years. They have been doing the surgery for a long time now, but can not find a long term study. One site said that the percentages have dropped drastically with the high numbers of patients now. But don't know what to believe.

Found some classes for doctors to take. Any doctors in the house? Would really like some up to date information.

BandsterHopeful · January 22, 2006

Yes, these stats are from the early trials, when none of the US docs had any experience. Yes, 80% probably have a "complication", since they include even the most minor things in the term "complication" ! Who hasn't barfed once?? The way i see it, i am willing to accept the risks, because the "complication" from remaining morbidly obese is 100% early DEATH. That is a BIG complication! Renee

Paparazzi · January 22, 2006

vomiting- no biggie almost everyone does it sometime. (I'd say that more like 95%)

slippage - can sometimes be fixed with an unfill, occasionally surgery

port failure - can be fixed in the office or as an outpatient

dilation - I know only one one person who had it and it went back to normal after a total unfill. Other than that I don't know much about it.

erosion - the worst but not life threatening if the band is removed. I've heard that the band can be replaced later.

Any surgury is serious and should not be taken lightly..still the complications of the lap-band are not as bad as RNY or DS.

JanetC · January 24, 2006

I can't speak overall, but my doctor has done 200 surgeries (he's a laparoscopic specialist who only started doing lap-bands 2.5 years ago).

For those 200 patients, after 2 years, he's had ZERO bands slipped, eroded or removed. Oops, take that back. He had one band removed & replaced in the same day. The band was leaking & they were unable to fix the leak internally, so they replaced it with a different band.

He had 2 that had flipped ports, so he changed his sutures (the "thread" he had been using had a tendency to break long term). Since the change, he's had 1 port flip. (According to him, the flipping occurs when one or more sutures holding the port in place break, allowing it to flip over.)

He's had a 99% success rate (success is rated as double digit weight loss & loss of at least 1 co-morbidity). His average weight loss is 67 pounds in year 1, 30 pounds in year 2 & 5 pounds in year 3. Remember those are averages, you can be above or below those numbers, the option is in your hands. His average patient age is 49. WLS accounts for approx 50% of his practice & he wants to keep it that way.

Again, this is just my surgeon's statistics. Why is his success better then Inamed's published numbers? He credits his personal surgical experience, the experience of his surgical team (he uses the same team he uses for other surgery), his team's excellent job of screening incoming patients & his overall aftercare program.

When you're choosing a surgeon, ask for their results & for their aftercare program. One of the surgeons I considered told me to look elsewhere for aftercare (other then fills)... I took him off my list.

Since you're already approved & waiting surgery, this may be old news... but since you've chosen that surgeon, go back & review why you chose him. I'm still nervous, of course, but my surgeon's skills are helping calm me... somewhat, lol.

Good luck!

GeezerSue · January 24, 2006

vomiting- no biggie almost everyone does it sometime. (I'd say that more like 95%)

...except for the damage it can cause...

slippage - can sometimes be fixed with an unfill, occasionally surgery

...but people should be financially and emotionally ready to deal with surgery if it is needed...

port failure - can be fixed in the office or as an outpatient

...again, an additional surgery, and if an infection is involved, could signal erosion...

dilation - I know only one one person who had it and it went back to normal after a total unfill. Other than that I don't know much about it.

...MANY, MANY people (I'm one of them) have esophageal dilatation and unfills can only do so much...

erosion - the worst but not life threatening if the band is removed. I've heard that the band can be replaced later.
Any surgury is serious and should not be taken lightly..still the complications of the lap-band are not as bad as RNY or DS.

Well, as I've had the band and the DS, I'd like to add that my esophagus SEEMS to be getting better. But that was only after REMOVING THE BAND. and I'm still taking drugs for the band-induced motility problems. My DS-related problems so far include knowing that I'm not getting in enough Protein and Calcium (I'm working on it), and having clothes that fit for only a week at a time. I've lost as much weight in eight weeks with the DS as I did in eight MONTHS with the band. My knees are happier.

Sue