Question:
How likely is it that the band will puncture the stomach?

Isn't the failure rate higher with the band (24% have it removed)!?!    — Kendra S. (posted on October 15, 2002)

October 15, 2002
Feel free to come ask at Spotlight.Health .. there are several support groups for band patients. The members are really knowledgeable and can probably answer this question with accuracy.
   — Jeanie

October 15, 2002
Your best bet would be like the previous poster said, check around other support groups. But also check with your surgeons office. I had the bypass and I love it, but it may not be for everyone,,,,best bet is to do all the research you can.
   — stacey1273

October 16, 2002
I don't know exact statics but I know that they are low according to the research that I had done before I was banded two weeks ago. If you want to ask me some question let me know I'll be glad to help. AGB 09/30/02 14lbs lost so far.
   — Genn2973

October 16, 2002
The band cannot "puncture" the stomach. The Detroit woman's stomach was punctured by the surgeon during surgery - that was a surgical error and actually had nothing to do with the band. The main risks with the band are as follows: (1) gastric erosion - which means that the band starts migrating through the stomach tissue. This happens in 3% of the cases, and the treatment is band removal. The stomach will usually heal from this, and another band can then be placed. (2) slippage - this means the band slips out of place, and this complication also requires band removal (but no permanent damage if the complication is addressed reasonably promptly). Again, the stomach can heal from this. I think this happens in 1% of cases nowadays---surgery techniques have improved (stitching the band in place) and thus this complication is becoming more rare. (3) erosive esophagitis - a recent study showed 50% of patients with this complication after 7 years, but more studies are needed. The study is here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12152154&dopt=Abstract The above study is quite negative regarding the band, and other studies I have found are not nearly so negative. I suspect that the reasons this study is negative are because they were using a problematic band (the older version of the Swedish band) and surgery techniques were not as good 7 years ago (when the surgeries in this study were performed). The bottom line is that the band has not been around that long, and more studies are needed to really assess its long-term effectiveness. I personally chose the band because I was not willing to undertake the risk of the RNY--I understand that about 25% of RNY patients have complications as result of the surgery. Here is a recent study of Lap RNY stating that "There were 34 complications in 27 patients (23.3%), 14 of which (12%) required reoperation." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12239643&dopt=Abstract Here is another study of Lap RNY vs Open RNY which states that "Gastric bypass, whether done open or laparoscopically, has significant surgical risk." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12034387&dopt=Abstract I encourage you to do your own searches of the research abstracts on PubMed. In the end, you have to make your own decision based upon your own research. Here's the URL for the PubMed search: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi Good luck! -Yvonne
   — itsyvonne

October 16, 2002
I'm just going to add a little tidbit to Yvonne's wonderful, informative post. Dr. Rumbaut let me hold a band in my hand right after my surgery. It is *soft*. There are no sharp edges. The Band is ROUND and the material it is made of could in no way poke, or puncture you anywhere! There's just nothing sharp there to do that! That poor lady in Detroit died due to a surgical error... which risk is present in ANY surgery. That was a surgeon's mistake, not a result of the Band. Hugs* JoAnna
   — JoAnna K.