Laparoscopic Management of Migrated Gastric Band Into the Mid-jejunum 10 Years following Lap Band Placement

Wasef Abu-Jaish, MD, FACS, FASMBS; Tessa Cattermole, MD; Candice Leach, MD

Product Details
Product ID: ACS-5780
Year Produced: 2019
Length: 8 min.


Laparoscopic gastric banding is no longer routinely considered in the surgical management of obesity partially due to high complication rates requiring re-operation. Gastric erosion is one such complication, with an incidence of approximately 1-2% according to several case studies.1-2 Surgeons must be aware of the variable presentations of erosion and the appropriate management of these complications. We describe a 44-year-old female with a history of morbid obesity who presented 10 years after placement of a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band with acute onset abdominal pain, nausea, and emesis. On presentation, a CT scan demonstrated the lap band intraluminally within the mid jejunum causing a partial small bowel obstruction. The tubing was no longer contiguous with the band. After placement of our initial ports intraoperatively, an EGD was performed with laparoscopic visualization. No tubing from the lap band system was identified within the stomach. A water air leak test was performed over the inflated stomach and was negative for a leak. The tubing was identified within the peritoneal cavity and the distal end was noted to be black. The band was removed laparoscopically with a longitudinal enterotomy over the proximal portion of the lap band. The lap band was then extracted from the jejunum and removed from the abdomen via an Endo-Catch bag and the enterotomy was closed primarily. The port was removed from the subcutaneous tissues along with the tubing under laparoscopic visualization. Laparoscopic extraction of a migrated lap band to the small bowel is a safe, feasible, and viable option.