Lap Band Side Effects Led To Additional Surgery in 60% of Patients: Study
Published: April 1st, 2011
About six out of every 10 people who undergo gastric Lap-Band surgery may experience complications that require additional surgery and nearly half may have to have the banding removed, according to a recent study by Belgian researchers.
The researchers looked at patients who had received the Allergan Inc. Lap-Band over a period of 12 years and reported their findings last week in the Archives of Surgery. They found that nearly a third of patients who undergo the procedure, known as laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), discovered that their bands had eroded the wall of their stomach over time.
The study used data from 82 patients who underwent LAGB surgery between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 1997. Researchers found that 61% suffered some kind of complications, usually major. Overall, 28% were found to have suffered Lap-Band erosion, and just under 50% had the band removed within 12 years. Overall, the Lap-Band recipients lost about 43% of the excess weight they carried before undergoing to procedure.
The researchers said that the lap band erosion, complications, and an overall lukewarm satisfaction rating by the patients in the study led them to determine that Lap-Band side effects lead to relatively poor long-term outcomes for LAGB.
Allergan has criticized the findings, saying that a 2010 Lap-Band study in Surgical Endoscopy found only a 12% complication rate among nearly 3,000 patients who had the bands implanted in 2001, which was the year the FDA approved the Lap-Band for use in the U.S. The company said that the study focused on the beginning of LAGB surgery, before doctors became experienced with the procedure.
According to Allergan, more than 500,000 people worldwide have received the Lap-Band and said both the band itself and LAGB surgery have changed since the subjects of the Belgian study received their bands.
The new study comes less than a week after the FDA announced that it was expanding the approved use of the Lap-Band to include people who were less obese.
Related Posts
- Gastric Bypass Surgery May Activate Genetic Wasting Disease: Report (5/16/2012)
- Lap-Band Problems Lead to Government Subpoena of Allergan (5/14/2012)
- Lawmakers Call for Transvaginal Mesh, Lap Band Safety Hearings (1/30/2012)
- Lap-Band Weight-Loss Surgery Risks Not Fully Disclosed in Ads: FDA (12/14/2011)
- Medtronic Bone Growth Agent Linked to Neck Surgery Problems (7/1/2009)
Comment by NANCY on 25 April 2011:
I had lapband surgery on february of 2009 is been a nightmare now iI need to remove my band and the insurance refused to pay for it. I dont know what to do. My band is eroted among other things is no longer working for the had to empty my band …
Comment by debra on 1 May 2011:
i had lapband surgery in dec. 2008. that next year i fell and tore my port loose.i called allergan and asked them if this was common?no.then i went to the gastro who did it.he wasnt in,so i seen his assoc.he said no port is in tact.but i was having a lot of pain.also a rep from allergan called my gastro.so he was pissed off at me.he examined me.said yes,its ripped loose.i told him i was in pain.he didnt care.sx schedule was over a month.yet i felt the port bunching up and stabbing me.i ended up in the er.so now dr. is off the roof with anger.he did the repair.cont.
Comment by Carol on 26 May 2011:
I had lap band In December 2004 and lost almost 100 lbs but I continued to vomit almost daily through out the time I had it. in Aug, 2009 I became very sick and went through several test over the next couple of months when they discovered that my band had eroded into my stomach (including the buckle.) In March of 2010 my eye doctor diagnosed me with dry macular degeneration with a retina specialist stating that he believed it was due to he lack of nutrients my body recieved while I had my lap band. I am 45 years old and have a disease that people have in there 70′s & 80′s. Is there anyone else out there having these problems? Is there anything I can do? I completely beleived in the lap -band & until now I would have had it re-done if it could be done without it becoming erodded again but now they are saying I could lose my central vision within five years. I am a Mom of 4 and I was a school bus driver until April of 2010 when my night vision became to bad to feel safe with all of those lives in my bus. I am a hobby artist, decorator, & photographer and I feel like my vision makes me everything that I am & now due to my lap-band, I am only going be an overweight, blind…..what?
Comment by Angela on 2 July 2011:
Additional comments:Removal was done due to slippage. In and out of dr’s on iron and b12 supplements-levels are dangerously low. It was an Allergen Lap-Band-I made pathology give it to me!
Comment by Angela on 2 July 2011:
I have had my lap band since 2004 and have had no complications. I have not made my goal weight, but I have made incredible changes. I no longer need my blood pressure meds, my cholesterol is lower now than when I was 19yrs old! The only reason I have not made goal is because I have not made the right food choices. I love sugar! The band is only a tool. Fortunately I have not had any complications with slips,erosions, etc. I am happy with my lap band and continue in my journey of ideal weight and healthy living.
start weight 247/now 190
Comment by Janice on 15 July 2011:
I had lapband surgery 10/09…I started having extreme diarrhea and notified the surgeon that did my surgery. He acted like that was normal. I was late to work and having problems every where I went.
Then we found my port was turned and I had to have a 2nd surgery 12/09 and 1 week to the day after that, I was passing bloodclots rectally at my job and almost passed out in the bathroom. I called him and he was so rude and told me it had nothing to do with the lapband I must have had something else going on already. I was perfectly healthy except for for a dead thyroid(which no one told me could be a problem because it is an autoimmune disease) and a little high blood pressure. But I found out after the surgery since my Grandmother had Lupus I was not a good candidate for this surgery
between my autoimmune disease and hers also. No one very talked about that at all. I got so sick I ended up in the hosptial twice and now they are saying I have Crohn’s Disease. I have to take IV Therapy every 8 weeks and Chemo injections every week. My health is ruined. I am 52 yrs old and in diapers and since the medications are not working so well now the GI dr says he might have to remove my colon. This has been nothing short of a nightmare. What was supposed to help my life has destroyed it. There is much more to my story but I would like to see if this has happened to anyone else. I personally know a lady from my church that went to the same surgeon as me and ended up almosy dying with pancreatitis. Of course the dr denies that was lapband issues also. I am running out of time to do a lawsuit and I need help. I LITERALLY OWE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR MY MEDICAL BILLS…MY CREDIT IS RUINED AND MY LIFE IS TERRIBLE NOW. IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP. THANK YOU.
Comment by Martin on 14 September 2011:
I had lap band surgery in 2008, only required 1 fill. Then in late 2009 and 2010 started to where I could not eat anything, kept having test done, and nothing finally became so sick to where fluids would no longer stay with me. Was hospitalized for sever dehydration and found out that the lap band had eroded into my stomach. I spent 8 days in hospital after removal for the half dollar size hole in my stomach to close up. Now we are in 2011 and I still cannot eat after the removal, only to find out that my stomach will not excrete the food because the removal of the band or the erosion tore my vagus nerve which is needed for the emptying of the food. I am a mess!
Comment by Becky on 27 September 2011:
I was banded in 2008 and lost almost 100 lbs the first year, put about half of that back on since. Started having severe upper-GI pain and had endoscopy which revealed lap-band erosion. After emergency surgery, doctor said this was by far the worst he’d ever seen, lap-band was 80% inside my stomach. Doctor who performed the explantation (removal of lap-band) was same doc who put it in & he no longer does lap-banding because of all the complications. Come on! With all the problems of this device you would think FDA would review & pull it off the market!!
Comment by ConnieJo on 26 October 2011:
In July of 2007 I had lapband surgery, I didn’t loose alot of weight but kept plodding along. About 3 years ago I started having horrible pain, just to the right of my stomach, sometimes I would spasm in the same area, when the spasm would hit the pain was so bad, it would drop me to my knees. During the spasm I could see the tube from my band twisting and turning under my skin. My doctor said that was impossible, but I know what I saw. At first when I started having pain my doctor ordered a scan and said it was normal, from then on when I complained of pain (which was every office visit) he would ignore me, blow off my complaint or tell me it was in my head. One visit the doctor said I invented the pain so he would take the fluid out of my band so I could eat what I wanted! After 4 years of little success with the lapband I decided to have gastric by-pass surgery. That decision saved my life! Sept. 20, 2011 they did the surgery they found erosion and the band had twisted around my stomach cutting the circulation off to the lower part of my stomach, instead of pink healthy stomach tissue, mine was brown. When they removed the band my stomach started to get some circulation back and pink up some. The doctor said trying to sew a new gastric by-pass stomach was like sewing in mud, my stomach tissue was so damaged it was falling apart. The new stomach I have is about the size of a quarter because that is the only healthy tissue they could find. Before getting a band there needs to be an agreement between the patient, doctor and insurance company if the band is causing pain, or is not successfull after a certain time it needs to come out.
Comment by Nicole on 28 October 2011:
I had Lap Band surgery in 2007 and now I am dealing with nausea/vomitting/dizziness every day, all day because of it slipping. After three visits to the ER the Doctor and a Barium swallow, the Doctor advised me of it and removed the fluid. He then acted surprised that I still have these symptoms days later. I have no insurance and he provided no options to help me remove the thing. I just want to feel normal again and get this thing out of my body.
Comment by bev on 31 October 2011:
i’ve had the band since july 04 – it started leaking around may 11 – i’m regaining everything i lost – the band eroded into the stomach – i have costs involved /wthe bypass though not hundreds of thousands – does anyone know of a class action lawsuite against allergan for this junk
allergan said they’d compensate me when i mentioned my costs involved for RX’s (xenical) etc
Comment by Heather on 27 December 2011:
Wow – what horror stories!! I thought it only happened to me….. I think my story is most like Connie Jo’s but with a better outcome.
I had the lap band put on in 6/2007. I initially lost about 30 pounds and stayed there no matter what I did. I work out 5 days a week and eat healthy food In July 2011 I started having terrible pain on my upper left side -just below my breast. They put me on pain pills and I went through 2 months of tests. They finally spotted the lap band during an endoscopy because much of it was on the inside of my stomach along with a huge infection It was another month before the Dr could get me in, and I had surgery 10/20/2011
It was supposed to be 45 min outpatient surgery. I was under for 4 hours and spent 6 days in the hospital. The lap band was all tangled up in my stomach and the infection was huge. They also had to repair my stomach with tissue from my lg intestine
I am still not 100% but am close. My wounds became infected and I had to have them re-opened. I’m healing from the inside out. I am fortunate enough to have decent insurance and have lost more weight from all of this than the lap band ! (42 lbs)
Comment by Mary on 12 January 2012:
I had the lap band placed 5/19/2008 and it was never filled initially due to adequate weight loss then due to persistent vomiting after the 1st revision. The first revision, 10/30/2008, was due to a suture the came loose and the port flipped so could not be accessed. The port was then sutured so tightly to the muscle fascia that I could not exercise or stand straight without a ripping pain. This caused persistent pain, hematoma, and recurrent bleeding each time it ripped (exercising or standing strainght upright). I suffered with this repeated injury, On 6/29/2009, I was rehospitalized for pain control and underwent another port revision into another part of my abdomen. the lap band eroded eventually, had persistent vomiting and I had the device removed 12/10/2010
Comment by Linda on 20 January 2012:
I had Lap band surgery 11/06. Self pay $14000.00. Everything went well for 3 months when I started to get fills. The second fill caused pain in my chest. I was assured it could not be the band. I couldn’t hold down very few bites at a time. By March I went in and had all fluid removed to see if pain would ease up. It did. Next month I got a fill with a fluoroscope and no pain. End of month chest pain was back and my surgeon assured me again it was not the band. I went to my GP and had a chest x-ray that showed a shadow. My GP put me on heavy antibiotics thinking it was pneumonia. 2 weeks later I was feeling better and losing weight. Another month and another fill and the pain started coming back. I had a upper GI endo with no stomach erosion. I suffered with it for a while then back to my GP. Another x-ray still shadow, another 4 week round of high power antibiotics. I was never convinced it was pneumonia. I got to feeling better but was not losing weight. I had only lost 30 lbs in 8 months. Pain was coming back centered center of breast bone. I was seeing my surgeon every month and complaining, NOT THE BAND. I planned a vacation and before leaving I went back to GP. I was afraid the “pneumonia” was coming back . He once again gave me meds and sent me on my vacation. We drove 6 hours and spent the night before hitting the road again. That morning I couldn’t stand straight pain was bad. After we arrived at our destination I was worse and went to bed for 2 days, meds were not working. The 3rd day I went to a walking Urgent Care, white blood cell count was off the chart, chest x-ray was black. This Dr sent me to local ER to get Cat scan. After waiting 7 hrs, Dr shook his head and gave me more meds and pain pills. My husband wanted me to fly home. But all the Dr’s had assured me everything was okay. I was deathly ill. So we left for home. I contacted my Surgeon tell the whole story. No help. I went to see my GP he called my Gastro Dr. in the same building and sent me up. My stomach was distended and swollen. She set up a Cat Scan. The lady administering the Cat Scan made me stay on the table because I was so ill, she told me I needed a surgeon stat. I called my lap band surgeon and he couldn’t believe it. I had to get a copy of my Scan for him. He set up surgery for the next day late. I begged him to let me got to the hospital that afternoon, I felt like I was dying and I was. I had peritonitis. I got to the hospital and was put on IV antibiotics and had a 4 hour surgery the next afternoon. My Dr said I was so full of infection that he could not see to find the lap band. He even referred to it as cottage cheese and pus. He had to clean me out, I already had scar tissue forming. I was in the hospital over a week, hardly remember some days. It took over a month to recover during this time I lost about 20 lbs. My Dr never said how I could get an infection in there. There were only 2 ways, surgery and fluid injection.
Comment by Alice on 24 January 2012:
I had lapband surgery in March of 2006. I had a hard time eating anything that was solid, meat, vegetables etc. I tried many times and would vomit. Even the smallest piece of meat chewed to a pulp would come back up. I lived on soup and crackers. Then I got reflux so bad I I had to sit in a recliner to sleep. I lost weight fast during this time. My hair started falling out as my body was being starved.
I went back to the doctor in 2009 and found out that the band had prolapsed. With all the daily throwing up it was no wonder. I had surgery to correct the problem. After that surgery I was able to eat normally, even meat, bread and all the other things that I could not tolerate before the second surgery. I could even overeat and not have the vomiting. Then I started gaining weight and went in for a fill in 2010. I started feeling hungry all the time so went back again for a fill in November of 2011. They found out after some testing that the tubing leading from the port to the band was cracked in two places. My insurance will not cover repairing the band or removing it. I have decided to take it out and be done with it. I think that Allergan should be held responsible for all these expenses with the additional surgery and that their product is faulty. They need to held reponsible for putting a product out there and not standing behind it.
Comment by tharvel on 24 January 2012:
Have any of you sought legal advice?
After 21/2 years my lapband perforated my stomach with excessive stomach pain and sepsis. Long story, but 6 weeks in the hospital mostly in intensive care. I am sad that Allergan continues to sell these to unsuspecting people.
Comment by LATONIA on 9 February 2012:
I ONLY HAD THE LAP BAND FOR ABOUT 4MONTHS AFTER MY SECOND FILL I HAD SO MUCH PAIN . I WENT TO THE DOCTOR HAD A UPPER GI . i HAD TO GO BACK INTO SURGERY TO HAVE IT REMOVED I WENT TO SO MUCH PAIN . WHEN I HAD TO STAY EXTRA DAY WHEN I GOT THE LAP BAND I NEW SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT.
Comment by Alice on 13 February 2012:
On January 24, 2012 I posted my first letter. I emailed the Allergan company about my lap band problems, and got no response from them. I finally called the company and talked with a representative and was told if the tubing was cracked they would probably reimburse me for my surgery as this is a product defect. I had the lapband removed on February 8, 2012 and my dr. said the port and tubing both were not working properly. I had received a letter from Allergan explaining the steps they wanted followed by the dr – to return the device to their lab and send all dr. reports and costs to them. I am hoping they will cover this surgery as all 3 of mine have been self pay too. The Allergan personnel was very helpful and am glad I contacted them myself. Just crossing my fingers that they will come thru and cover the surgery. If not I will contact a lawyer and sue them.
Comment by Disappointed on 20 March 2012:
Alice, My Allergan lapband tubing also cracked — near the band itself. I had my band removed (and revised to VSG) the day after you did, on Feb 9, 2012. The hospital where I had it removed is saying that they will not release the band to me, or anyone else. Even if they did release the band to me, I believe it would be unwise to send it to Allergan. They would then have all of the leverage, and could say/not say anything they wanted regarding the condition of the lapband. They would have total control. And as kind as they seem to be on the phone, I believe they would not be so kind when it comes down to issuing a check for reimbursement. (I was also a cash pay). Sadly, I may have no choice but to contact a lawyer to get things sorted out with Allergan.
Comment by Heather on 22 March 2012:
I originally posted on 12/27/2011. I had the lap band removed on 10/20/2011 and still have not healed completely. 2 of my wounds are not closed, but they are closing – albeit slowly. My total weight loss from the surgery recovery is now 51 lbs. I am never without pain in my abdominal area. I keep hoping that I am healing and it will be ok eventually. Some days it is worse than others, and the good days are what keep me going.
I did call a few lawyers who said the only way it would be worth suing would be a class action law suit. With what I’ve read here, it seems like an eventuality. Does anyone know of a case going on?
Comment by Lainey on 15 April 2012:
I had the lap band placed in 2008 all went well ok had lots of vomiting and always could feel the band…then 10 months later I developed severe right upper quadrant pain prompting my surgeon to take out my gallbladder…pain continued off and on as well as the nausea and vomiting and fills and unfills then in 2011 I developed the most horriable right upper quad pain I can imagine surgeon sent me to ER and after many meds was sent home. Had a scope done reports came back normal…finally pain and vomiting continued my surgeon removed the band…I still continue to vomit everything I eat or drink at times prompting me to have IV fluids…surgeon has abandoned me and finally seeing a specialist at UNMC states he suspects it is damage from the band of course not sure what can be done to help me. I originally lost 60-70 pds with the band to gain most back…I have now lost post band removal over a 100 pds in a short time. Did say the band had adhered to my liver…funny band is gone and no more right upper quadrant pain….I hate the band it ruined my life!!!!!
Comment by Jennifer on 1 May 2012:
UI had the lapband done in may of 2009. Everything went well for almost two years. In 2011, I began complaining of throwing up while laying down and could not hold anything down. After several trips to the emergency room for dehydration the surgeon said it was not from the band and it was acid reflux. However, that problem soon went away once I stopped getting fills. I noticed I was eating more and putting my weight back on and felt nothing in the band to help. I fought with the surgeon and center as they only allowed two hours one day a week for me to see that surgeon and could not transfer doctors. I finally called in to work because I was having intense pain where the port was. He saw me and tried to give me a fill. All the saline went inside and I was able to still drink an entire bottle of water. We did a barium test and found it was leaking at the port. And here is when hell began. This was in Nov of 2011 and they knew I was losing insurance at the end of Nov. The center made no effort to get me in and said it was not important. By Jan. I was seeing the emergency room often. They said the Jan 14th that it was erosion from the stomach that was causing me to cough of blood. Jan 16 they just gave me pain pills to deal with it. My surgeon was notified and he did not come see me or help me. Now, Starting April 23, I have been in intense and extreme pain from my belly button down. I have sharp spasms that feel like I am sitting on knives and hurts to move. I can no longer work and I have no insurance. The surgeon will not help me and said I had to pay for the procedure up front before anything can be done. I went to the er three times in two weeks and found by ct scan that the tubing has discontinued from the port and is blindly ending in my pelvic area causing infection and severe pain. Yet, even with all this information, no one is willing to help me. I am 26 and can not file a lawsuit cause no one will listen and I have no insurance to get it removed because the insurance I am payinf for refuses to cover it even though it is now medically needed. If anyone has any suggestions, please contact me.
Comment by Alice on 2 May 2012:
I have two prior postings on this site. I had my lap band removed. I called the lap band company – Allergan and sent them my lap band as the tubing was cracked and leaking. They had their lab look at it and have decided it was a defect in the lap band so are reimbursing my last surgery. Try contacting them.
Comment by Jody on 6 May 2012:
Had the lap band placed in May 2006. It was four years of living hell, throwing up, trips to the emergency room and finally, a doctor out it Phoenix researched and seen my band had slipped, it was in a life-threatening position. It was removed April 13, 2012 in emergency surgery.