Question:
If you have or had a failed VBG, would you please tell me what failed?

I spoke with my surgeon regarding the higher failure rate with the VBG vs. the RNY and he said that there were three areas that caused failure in the VBG: 1)The type of mesh that was used - fixed by using Gortex mesh. 2) Horizontal cutting of the stomach (which stretches) - fixed by making the cut vertically. 3) Staple line opening allowing food to go from the pouch into the stomach - fixed by completely dissecting the stomach away from the pouch. If your VBG failed, was it for one of these reasons? If not, what? And finally, what did you do? Repair the problem or go to an RNY?    — [Anonymous] (posted on October 24, 2001)

October 24, 2001
A good source of information and support on failed VBG's--and other failed weight-loss surgeries--is OSSG-Revision ([email protected]). Best wishes.
   — Kay B.

October 24, 2001
Hello, I had the VBG done in 1996....I had a revision this last January and when he opened me up the silastic band was "hanging by a thread" and all the staples had erupted. A lot of my problem was I had no aftercare (I live in Alaska)...I wasn't told NOT to drink with a meal, I wasn't told to STAY AWAY from pop. Another thing, I was able to substitute high sugar foods when I couldn't keep things like chicken/steak down....so I drank milkshakes and downed ice cream and eventually gained 60 of the 90 I'd lost. All is going well now...I dump on sugar! The only thing I would've changed is having the transection rather than staples (but I went for the less expensive doc as I self paid and didn't have a choice). Please e-mail me if you have any further questions, from "been there, done that" Gail :-)
   — Gail R.

May 10, 2002
I had staple line failure and go a small hole and it let the food through. I gain all of the weight i had lost back 110 pounds and decided to have it cdhecked out. when dr tillquist opened me up he found the hole. he did a revision and i ended up with rny. I think is is a much better surgery. as of february 13th i have lost around 55 pounds and 45 inches carla klein
   — carlak

May 11, 2002
Well, I had a vertical-banded gastroplasty in 1997. I only lost about 40-60 lbs after it and then started to regain. I used to throw up just about every day. Sometimes many, many times a day. There were many times when I would eat one bite and throw up. Yet, I was still gaining my weight back. This was probably because the only things I could get to go down were things that were not really good for me, although I ate very little. I found this site at the beginning of last year and found out others had this problem with the VBG. So, I looked into seeing what the problem was and possibly a revision. It turned out I had a staple line disruption and also the found that the opening to my stomach was 8 mm (they said it is usually about 15 mm). I had a revision to RNY in July, 2001 and have not thrown up since. Before, after the VBG, I couldn't eat pasta, bread, rice, most meat, vegetables, salad without throwing up within a bite or two. Now, I can eat virtually anything without getting sick (I do dump with sugar and choose not to eat that). I can eat a semi normal-sized meal, and I have lost WAY more than after the VBG. My doctor converted me to RNY, which he did transect the pouch, and bypassed 150 cms. He also got rid of the ring that was causing that small opening. I feel so much better than I ever did after the other surgery.
   — Michele :.

January 14, 2003
Actually, I have a question about what you said about the repair. What did they use the "mesh" for? Did you only have the VBG, or did you have the Gastric Bypass too? I am about 6 years post-op and have gained about 30 lbs. back. I originally lost almost 80lbs. I had the VBG/GB.
   — Jennifer F.