What causes bands to break, slip or dissolve?

Perhaps I have been mis-interpretting what people have been saying but I noticed othes mentioning situations in which the band either is taken out because of problems or when the band breaks or snaps?

Is this a fairly common or inevitable thing or is this something only caused rarely or through misuse?

The reason I ask is because my wife had the band installed in August of 2009 and its work well once it got going (took at least 6 months for the band to truly start working).

She also suffers from what is called Oesophageal Achalasia, something she was diagnosed with a year before she got the band.

It has a lot of similar effects to the band as what happens is food gets stuck in the throat, just short of reaching the band. Eating the wrong type of foods can cause her massive problems with food getting stuck. The only real way to get food "unstuck" is to try and eat other foods and pu**** down, when that is unsuccesful she needs to bring the food back up. Its not quite the same as throwing up as nothing has reached the stomach.

Problem being is that everything that is good for the band, is bad for the Achalasia and I am totally confused as to what encouragement I should be giving her. The most important factor for her is that the band remains intact and inside her, purely for pshychological reasons, I reckon she does most of the work anyway but she feels it works which is most important.

Any advice on things to avoid, do you perceieve her encountering problems? What advise would you give?

I've never heard of a band breakign or dissolving!! It can spring a leak sometimes which will need  a repair but the other two really don't seem likely.  I have pasted an article below about slips.

Oes Achalasia  is usually a contra-indication for would-be bandsters. So, I don't think anyone on here will be able to offer much help. But there may be someone who developed it post-op.. This seems to be to be very much something to discuss with her doc.

A Clinical Study

A clinical study was done in Germany to review complications following lap band surgery. Thirty-five hospitals were involved in the study, with 4138 patients that underwent gastric banding over a five-year period.  Lap Band long-term complications were described in 8.6%  of all patients.  The most common complications included: pouch dilation or enlargement (5.0%), lap band slippage (2.6%), and Lapband migration or erosion (1.0%).   (Stroh,C  Manger, T “Complications after adjustable gastric banding", Chirurg, 2006, Vol 77,pag 244-250)

 Normal Lap Band X-Ray Under Fluoroscopy

  Enlarged Lap Band Pouch    

What is Lap Band Slippage?

One of the long-term complications of lap band surgery is called “Lapband slippage" and can be defined as “when the Lapband and the stomach pouch are both prolapsed."  This means that the lap band has shifted position and the enlarged stomach pouch has also shifted or twisted so that food does not go through the lapband into the rest of the stomach. This may result in pain, discomfort, decreased appetite and inability to eat or drink, and vomiting. Lapband Slippage does not happen immediately but may take several months to develop. 

Large Lap Band Pouch

Lap Band Slippage generally develops in a progressive manner. As food intake is increased, the stomach begins to stretch and grow and the patient may stop losing weight or start to regain weight.  At this point, patients may only exhibit an enlarged stomach Lap band pouch.  This can be medically treated by deflating the lap band to release pressure and slow the growth of the pouch (successful in 70% of cases, or surgical treatment can be considered). However, if the enlarged lapband pouch continues to grow, the lapband progressively rotates until both the lap band and the enlarged pouch become prolapsed, resulting in Lap band slippage.  This is followed by functional stenosis (narrowing) of the stomach.  

 Lap Band Slippage

Lapband Slippage Symptoms typically include progressively worsening reflux, vomiting and epigastric complaints, which may increase to sudden near-total dysphagia (inability to swallow or eat anything, including saliva).

Risk factors or causes of lap band slippage include surgical technique, model of the  lapband used, early consumption of solid foods, early inflation or filling of the band, consumption of carbonated or sparkling beverages, and frequent vomiting.

Treatment for lap band slippage requires surgical intervention. The lapband must be repositioned or removed, based on the operative findings and condition of the stomach pouch. If appropriate, the surgeon and patient may elect to choose another type of bariatric procedure such as a Gastric Sleeve. 

How Do I Prevent Lap Band Slippage?

In order to decrease the risk of developing lap band slippage, it is important to follow the recommended diet following surgery and to avoid introducing solid foods too early.  In addition, the fills should not be started before 6 weeks post-operatively and these Lap band fills should be very gradual.  We also recommend that fills should be done under fluoroscopy, even if you are asymptomatic (no symptoms of lap band slippage), to be able to monitor the position of the lapband, and the size of the stomach pouch and condition of the esophagus. This will allow for early diagnosis of an enlarged stomach pouch or possible lap band slippage.

Just noticed - another Brit! That makes 3 of us posting on this one day! All time record! Kate

my brother's band dissolved. They had to go in and get all the pieces of it out of him. They did place another one. One of the reasons I personally chose a different surgery. To each their own. =)

That's awful! Was he able to sue the manufacturer? We can expect all sorts of problems but a silicone band breaking into many pieces and dissolving has to be a manufacturing defect. I hope he is OK now. And he had another one - didn't it destroy his faith in the procedure?

Kate

 my brother's band dissolved. They had to go in and get all the pieces of it out of him. They did place another one. One of the reasons I personally chose a different surgery. To each their own. =)


 
   
    
     
     
      
       

With the same genetics, I'd fear staple line disolvement with the Sleeve???

Oddly enough, my orthopedic surgeon said that my knee reconstruction dissolved.  I used a cadaver tendon though and that is soft human tissue - tissue that was not mine!  Good luck to you both.  What I can't figure out is why would this doc try another band after this one really phenomenal issue your bro had.  Weird!

I think she's referring to erosion.  When a band erodes it looks like it's been baked in an oven.

This is totally and utterly impossible.

Silicone, or any other polymerized siloxanes most assuredly CAN'T DISSOLVE. And, furthermore, if something had dissolved... you obviously wouldn't be able to "go in and get all the pieces of it out."

The likelihood is that your brother's band ended up cracking apart (which can happen but very, very rarely), or part of the band eroded into the stomach (which again, does happen but very rarely).

Not very funny IMHO.

Kate - The manufacturer ended up paying for the removal of the pieces and the placement of the new band. He woke from the surgery with the new one in....I am not sure if he made the choice for the new one or not...the impression I got was that they put it in and he woke with it there. I know that mentally it was a big blow. It has been tough to have to work on his weight again...he regained some through the whole thing. The new band was place in Sept/Oct. I live out of state so I heard about it after the fact. I knew he thought it had slipped because he felt no restriction but I found out what had really happened after everything. Every surgery has its risks and it is our job to learn what they are and know if we are willing to take them. I chose the sleeve because I was willing to take the risks with it...and live the lifestyle it would dictate. =) It has been good for me so far and I have not regretted it but it is not for everyone. =)