Endoluminal Removal of an Eroding Gastric Band after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Alana Chock, MD, FACS; Thomas Savides, MD; Yoav Mintz, MD; John Cullen, MD; Santiago Horgan, MD

Product Details
Product ID: ACS-2591
Year Produced: 2007
Length: 6 min.


Our patient presents 2 years after a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with concurrent placement of a silastic band at the gastrojejunostomy by another institution. She lost over 100 lbs and presented with a BMI of 24 complaining of severe epigastric pain when eating. Upper endoscopy revealed an eroding gastric band at the level of the gastrojejunostomy. The patient underwent endoscopy in the operating room suites and the silastic band was visualized traversing the gastrojejunostomy anastomosis. The band and surgical clips that were attached to it had eroded through the gastric wall. The band was grasped, cut, and removed in a piece meal fashion endoluminally. The patient tolerated the procedure well. Post procedure she underwent an upper GI swallow which did not reveal a leak and she was slowly advanced to a regular diet The patient is now 2 months out of surgery and has no complaints of pain. She is maintaining her weight. Erosion of gastric bands can be a devastating and difficult complication to manage. An endoluminal approach to the eroding band offers a safe and effective treatment option while avoiding an operation.