Question about maintenance, complications, and alternatives

[2muchfun 8,927]

Once again Ms Maui is flying fast and loose with the facts. The study she cites was the initial study initiated in 1995 shortly after the advent of the product. Techniques and product enhancements have made these results antiquated and negligible.

As I've said before, all new medical devices and surgical techniques improve over time. It's only natural. Lapband surgery will be better in 10 years than it is now I have no doubt. Body part transplants will have better outcomes 10 years from now. Lapband outcomes now, compared to 20-23 years ago, are also much better due to higher quality products, surgical techniques and physician training.

Are there still failures and complications? Of course there are and as long as human nature is involved, this will continue to be the case.

From the FDA.gov website:

Study Design:

A 3-year, single-arm, multi-center study was initiated in June 1995 with 299 subjects enrolled at

8 centers under the care of 12 surgeons. All procedures were completed utilizing a perigastric

dissection technique with pouches of 25 ml or (later in the study) 15 ml, using the 9.75cm (B-

2210) and 10.0cm (B-2220) LAP-BAND

® Systems.

http://www.fda.gov/d...l/UCM235263.pdf

[Baba Wawa 543]

I wish my esophageal dysmotility was flying "fast and loose" with the facts. If it was 11% in 1995 and according to the doctors I'm seeing, saying they're seeing a dramatic increase within the banded population, who knows what the actual % is today..,

[m1aman 944]

Thanks for clearing that up TMF. I figured she was full of BS, as usual.

[labwalker 1,177]

I wonder if the complication rate is skewed due to the problems and removal rate for the old 4cc sized bands that are no longer being used in the US? There are a lot of quacks promoting WLS, and I firmly believe that a surgeon needs to provide the best option for WLS on an individual basis. There were some real horror stories regarding WLS clinics on the West Coast several years ago. Shop for a surgeon with an impeccable reputation.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

I wonder if the complication rate is skewed due to the problems and removal rate for the old 4cc sized bands that are no longer being used in the US? There are a lot of quacks promoting WLS, and I firmly believe that a surgeon needs to provide the best option for WLS on an individual basis. There were some real horror stories regarding WLS clinics on the West Coast several years ago. Shop for a surgeon with an impeccable reputation.

It is, actually. It's unfortunate but the removal/complication rate for the old 4cc bands is a lot higher. What makes it worse is the fact shady Mexican docs still use it to cut their costs. It definitely effects the overall success rates as a whole.

[Maddysgram 6,159]

Thanks for clearing that up TMF. I figured she was full of BS, as usual.

LMAO....

Love the puppy!

[m1aman 944]

Thanks Maddy! That is my sweet little Ava at 6 weeks old. She is 17.5 weeks now and about 33 pounds.

[Lapbandster 496]

MsMaui:

I feel bad for you that you've had a miserable experience with your band, and I wish you the best of luck with the rest of your weight loss journey

But PLEASE STOP misrepresenting facts/statistics

Anyone with common sense will realize that surgeons wouldn't do this procedure if there was a 25% removal rate, but common sense isn't all that common unfortunately.

All you are doing is spreading baseless negative propaganda (and frankly scaring the **** out of many bandsters)

It's just plain crazy!

[Baba Wawa 543]

MsMaui:

I feel bad for you that you've had a miserable experience with your band' date=' and I wish you the best of luck with the rest of your weight loss journey

But PLEASE STOP misrepresenting facts/statistics

Anyone with common sense will realize that surgeons wouldn't do this procedure if there was a 25% removal rate, but common sense isn't all that common unfortunately.

All you are doing is spreading baseless negative propaganda (and frankly scaring the **** out of many bandsters)

It's just plain crazy![/quote']

What has been misrepresented? The stat was part of the initial application for approval by the FDA that was submitted by Inamed and was included in the information packet published by Allergan until very recently. If yo feel that my information is incorrect, just back it up with opposing studies. No need to censor me.

As I've stated over and over, there needs to be further esophageal testing to aid in determining if a person's anatomy can tolerate banding. Since so many of us had hiatal hernia repair with bands, getting this testing helps surgeons determine the best procedure for repair, since the repair directly involves the gastro-esophageal junction. This area is subject to high pressure with banding (not from non-compliance) and the nerves can be damaged leading to the type of problem I'm having. What on earth is gained by avoiding a test that could save a person the risk of this damage, additional surgeries and the potentially permanent damage?

If you and the others on this site who criticize me for posting this information are willing to look the other way, fine, that's your choice. If newbies get scared, I'm sorry. If those looking into banding read my posts and ask their doctors about this information, good. There's room here for my opinion, since so many others aren't shy about voicing theirs regarding me and my posts.

Please STOP telling me to shut up. Not going to happen.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

What has been misrepresented? The stat was part of the initial application for approval by the FDA that was submitted by Inamed and was included in the information packet published by Allergan until very recently. If yo feel that my information is incorrect, just back it up with opposing studies. No need to censor me.

As I've stated over and over, there needs to be further esophageal testing to aid in determining if a person's anatomy can tolerate banding. Since so many of us had hiatal hernia repair with bands, getting this testing helps surgeons determine the best procedure for repair, since the repair directly involves the gastro-esophageal junction. This area is subject to high pressure with banding (not from non-compliance) and the nerves can be damaged leading to the type of problem I'm having. What on earth is gained by avoiding a test that could save a person the risk of this damage, additional surgeries and the potentially permanent damage?

If you and the others on this site who criticize me for posting this information are willing to look the other way, fine, that's your choice. If newbies get scared, I'm sorry. If those looking into banding read my posts and ask their doctors about this information, good. There's room here for my opinion, since so many others aren't shy about voicing theirs regarding me and my posts.

Please STOP telling me to shut up. Not going to happen.

How about you actually produce the said study you claim says there is a 25% removal rate? Otherwise it's just more spewing false scare tactics.

[Baba Wawa 543]

http://www.sutterpacific.org/bariatrics/conditions/lap-band-complications.html

This is the copy I was referring to. It's published here by a Bariatrics practice in San Francisco.

You mean this one?

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

"While unlikely, complications such as slippage can occur in patients who have had LAP-BAND® surgery."

that sentence is on the link you provided...please read it again

**while unlikely, complications (can) occur**

can but not always

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

You mean this one?

" 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"

Only 2/3 of that 25% had it removed after adverse events. 11% of those were Esophageal dilatation, aka overeating and stretching out the pouch or bands too tight- patients fault not band's fault.

So, 2/3 of 25% is 16%. 16% less the 11% who caused it themselves leaves 5%.

Ironically, 5% is the exact percentage reported as band failures. http://www.futurity.org/health-medicine/weight-stays-off-long-after-lap-band-surgery/