Laparoscopic Gastric Band Surgery

What is Laparoscopic Gastric Band Surgery

Laparoscopic gastric band surgery is a procedure to help you to lose weight (bariatric surgery). During this procedure, a band (gastric band) is put around the stomach.

This makes the upper part of the stomach into a small pouch that can hold only a small amount of food. The lower, bigger part of the stomach is below the band. The two parts stay connected by a small opening between them. Food goes through the opening to the lower part of the stomach more slowly than before surgery. This means that you need less food to make you feel full.

The gastric band has an expandable balloon on its inner side. The balloon may be inflated to make the stomach smaller, or deflated to make it larger. Your gastric band will be adjusted during follow-up visits to allow you to control your hunger and help you lose weight safely.

You may have this procedure if:

  • You are obese and you have not been able to lose weight by changing your diet and getting more physical activity.
  • You have health problems that are related to obesity, such as:
    • Type 2 diabetes (diabetes mellitus).
    • Heart disease.
    • Lung disease.

Tell a health care provider about:

  • Any allergies you have.
  • All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
  • Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
  • Any blood disorders you have.
  • Any surgeries you have had.
  • Any medical conditions you have.
  • Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.

What are the risks?

Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:

  • Bleeding.
  • Infection.
  • Allergic reactions to medicines.
  • Injury to the intestines, stomach, or other organs. This is rare.
  • Stomach ulcers.
  • Problems with the tube that connects the band to the stomach, causing the band to slip out of place. This is rare, and it would need to be fixed with another procedure.
  • Vomiting.
  • Trouble swallowing.
  • Not getting enough nutrients for your body (malnutrition).
  • Problems with the gastric band, such as the band wearing down over time.
  • Heartburn.
  • Stomach inflammation (gastritis).
  • Lack of weight loss.
  • Small, hard deposits in the gallbladder (gallstones).

What happens before the procedure?

Medicines

  • Ask your health care provider about:
    • Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
    • Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines unless your health care provider tells you to take them.
    • Taking over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements.
  • You may be given antibiotic medicine to help prevent infection.

Staying hydrated

Follow instructions from your health care provider about hydration, which may include:

  • Up to 2 hours before the procedure – you may continue to drink clear liquids, such as water, clear fruit juice, black coffee, and plain tea.

Eating and drinking restrictions

Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating and drinking, which may include:

  • 8 hours before the procedure – stop eating heavy meals or foods such as meat, fried foods, or fatty foods.
  • 6 hours before the procedure – stop eating light meals or foods, such as toast or cereal.
  • 6 hours before the procedure – stop drinking milk or drinks that contain milk.
  • 2 hours before the procedure – stop drinking clear liquids.

General instructions

  • Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
  • You may be asked to shower with a germ-killing soap.
  • You may have tests, such as:
    • Blood tests.
    • A gallbladder ultrasound.
  • Manage your weight as told by your health care provider. It is important to not gain weight before the procedure.
  • Plan to have someone take you home from the hospital or clinic.
  • Plan to have a responsible adult care for you for at least 24 hours after you leave the hospital or clinic. This is important.

What happens during the procedure?

  • An IV will be inserted into one of your veins.
  • You will be given a medicine to make you fall asleep (general anesthetic). You may also be given a medicine to help you relax (sedative).
  • Several small incisions will be made in your abdomen.
  • A laparoscope will be placed through one of the incisions. Surgical instruments will be placed through the other incisions.
  • A gastric band will be placed around the upper part of your stomach.
  • A tube (port) will be placed underneath your abdominal skin and connected to the gastric band. The port can be used to access the gastric band at a later time, to adjust the size.
  • Your incisions will be closed with stitches (sutures) or staples and covered with a bandage (dressing).

The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.

What happens after the procedure?

  • Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored until the medicines you were given have worn off.
  • You may feel the port under the skin of your abdomen. This is normal.
  • You will take a test called a barium swallow. This involves swallowing a liquid (barium) that shows up clearly on X-rays. X-rays will be taken while you are in different positions. The X-rays will show if the band is in the right place.
  • Do not drive for 24 hours if you were given a sedative, or until your health care provider approves.

Summary

  • Laparoscopic gastric band surgery is a procedure to help you to lose weight. During this procedure, a band (gastric band) is put around the upper part of the stomach.
  • Do not gain weight before your procedure. This is important.
  • The balloon on the gastric band can be inflated to make your stomach smaller, or deflated to make it larger.

Laparoscopic Gastric Band Surgery, Care After

This sheet gives you information about how to care for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your health care provider.

What can I expect after the procedure?

After the procedure, it is common to have some pain in the abdomen.

Follow these instructions at home:

Eating and drinking

  • At first, you will be on a liquid-only diet. This means that you will only be able to drink small amounts of liquids such as tea, juice, broth, and gelatin. Follow instructions from your health care provider about:
    • How long you need to stay on a liquid diet.
    • What to eat and how much to eat. This is very important.
    • Taking any vitamins or protein supplements.
  • Do not drink caffeine for one month or longer after your surgery, or as told by your health care provider.
  • Eat several small meals during the day, and avoid drinking fluids during your meals. Chew your food very well before swallowing.
  • Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.

Activity

  • If your health care provider has encouraged you to get up and walk around, do this as soon as you are able. This is to improve blood flow. Avoid sitting for a long time without moving. Get up to take short walks every 1–2 hours. Do this for 4–6 weeks after surgery, or as long as told by your health care provider.
  • Rest and avoid activities that take a lot of energy. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you during recovery.
  • Do not lift, push, or pull anything that is heavier than 10 lb (4.5 kg), or the limit that you are told, until your health care provider says that it is safe.
  • Take deep breaths, cough, and do breathing exercises as told to prevent lung infection (pneumonia).

Driving

  • Do not drive for 24 hours if you were given a medicine to help you relax (sedative) during your procedure.
  • Do not drive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.

Bathing

  • Do not take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves. Ask your health care provider if you may take showers.
  • Pat your incisions dry. Do not rub them.

Incision care

  • Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your incisions. Make sure you:
    • Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
    • Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.
    • Leave stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to be in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do not remove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
  • Check your incision areas every day for signs of infection. Check for:
    • Redness, swelling, or more pain.
    • Fluid or blood.
    • Warmth.
    • Pus or a bad smell.

General instructions

  • You may have follow-up visits starting a few weeks after surgery to adjust the size of the gastric band. The gastric band has an expandable balloon on its inner side. The balloon may be inflated or deflated depending on your diet and weight loss after surgery.
    • To make the upper part of your stomach (your pouch) smaller, your health care provider will inject fluid through your port to fill the balloon on your gastric band. This means that you can eat less food. Your health care provider may do this several weeks after your surgery.
    • To make your stomach pouch larger, your health care provider will drain fluid through your port until the balloon on your gastric band deflates. This means that you can eat more food.
  • Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
  • If you are taking prescription pain medicine, your health care provider may recommend that you take an over-the-counter or prescription medicine to prevent or treat constipation. Take the constipation medicine as directed.
  • Wear compression stockings as told by your health care provider. These stockings help to prevent blood clots and reduce swelling in your legs.
  • Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. These can delay incision healing. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
  • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if you:

  • Have a fever or chills.
  • Have a cough that does not go away.
  • Have pain that does not get better with medicine.

Get help right away if you:

  • Feel nauseous or you vomit.
  • Have pain or discomfort when swallowing.
  • Develop shortness of breath or chest pain.
  • Have redness, swelling, or more pain around an incision.
  • Have fluid or blood coming from an incision.
  • Notice that an incision feels warm to the touch.
  • Have pus or a bad smell coming from an incision.
  • Have severe leg pain.
  • Notice that your stool is black, tarry, or dark red.
  • Feel confused.
  • Have slurred speech.
  • Suddenly feel weak.
  • Feel light-headed when standing.

Summary

  • It is common to have some abdominal pain after this procedure.
  • Follow instructions from your health care provider about what to eat and how much to eat.
  • At first, you will be on a liquid-only diet. This means that you will only be able to drink small amounts of liquids.
  • Do not lift, push, or pull anything that is heavier than 10 lb (4.5 kg), or the limit that you are told, until your health care provider says that it is safe.
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