Mayo Clinic no longer offers gastric bands

http://www.mayoclinic.org/bariatric-surgery/types.html

One of our gals in our FB group is currently at Mayo trying to regain her ability to eat. She's been on a feeding tube for well over a year as a result of complications from her gastric band. Her doctor told her today they've stopped offering AGB due to the increasing number of serious complications. I checked and sure enough, they do not offer it.

 

Doesn't surprise me. Just surprised that it took so long. The other reputable bariatric departments will be following suit as well.

 

That speaks volumes.

 

I am still going strong with my band, but also know it. Could be just a matter of time before issues crop up.

 

Hope your recovery is going well.  Please keep us 

posted on how your healing is going!!,

I'm doing really well, considering how bad things were.  I'm on a soft diet, focused on protein...got 102gr in today and 1050 cal, so good ratio.  Nothing feels like it did.  Foods, liquids are all going down just fine.  

As I've been thinking about this the last few days, I've come to a realization that very few of us would have opted for a band if we'd been told the expected lifespan was 5-10 years, as is being stated now.  In 3 years I have 15 incisions on my upper abdomen from implantation, gallbladder and explantation.  A 30 something would potentially, if they stuck with a band, replacing it as needed over their life have up to 10 additional surgeries at that rate, 4-5 incisions, + GB removal...our anatomy isn't made to perform under that abuse...that's up to 55 incisions, a recipe for hernias and even more invasive procedures...hardly least invasive and safest.  It's a head scratcher why anyone would choose this option today.  This doesn't even consider the impact on esophageal function.  

I hope you continue to have success and be trouble free, Kath.  I'm just so relieved my GI tract is wide awake again and I don't feel like I'm going to have cardiac arrest every time I eat.  Even eating ice cream every night, cream soups, I was losing a pound a week...protein just would not go thru.

Thanks for the good thoughts!!!

Steph

The link was off their twitter feed yesterday.  I went to mayoclinic.org, typed "bariatric surgery types" and it took me to the same page showing just RNY, VSG and DS.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/bariatric-surgery/types.html

The first link is surgery comparison, not the surgeries being stated done by them. Posted Feb. 13, 2013.

The second link isn't Mayo's site, just references them unless I am missing something!

Maybe the phone operator hasn't been informed yet?  I did a search on their site and it isn't listed anymore.

I guess we should take your word over an actual patient undergoing testing in the bariatric department then...

Well...my friend is there now and her doctor told her this...your links are old.  Mine is current.

Having worked for Mayo a number of years ago I can tell you that this is very likely surgeon choice.  There are indeed Mayo surgeons that won't place bands anymore due to esophageal safety and poor overall stats.  Many surgeons are joining in on decisions not to do bands anymore regardless of Mayo affiliation.

The lap band is not a device intended to last for life.  Bariatric patients tend to need a lifetime solution, not a temporary measure.  Many surgeons believe it does more harm than good and they are declining to place them.

I remember about 4 years ago when sales were dropping at record rates, that was about the time that studies were coming out showing the serious damage caused by banding and poor long term stats.  People were researching, reading studies, and realizing they need a permanent solution so they were opting for other surgery types.  Allergan was calling doctors asking why they weren't buying their bands anymore, my own surgeon was telling me that back in the day they were placing 30 bands to every one other procedure.  Two years ago they were doing 30 other procedures to every 1 band.  Today they are removing 30 bands to every band they place.

I guess it goes to prove that in life we do get what we ask for.  Some want a surgery type that allows us to remove a device and eat again and that is exactly what is happening today.  Bands are removed and people are regaining without a revision to  a safer surgery type.  Personally, I prefer safer and better long term stats but YMMV.

When bypass folks have to have their surgery type reversed 50% of the time by the six year point like bands do, then I will believe the band is safer than bypass.  But in light of the facts, bypass is safer than the band.  When the pharmaceutical companies say the band is the least invasive procedure that doesn't mean safer long term.  That is an advertising gimmick that has paid Allergan well over the short years the band has been out.

I mean, think about it.  Even Allergan doesn't want their band anymore. ;o)