Gastric Band

Very motivated patients can lose more than half of their excess weight within two years with the help of the tape. This has been shown in numerous studies. At the same time, the quality of life often improves because concomitant diseases of the metabolic syndrome such as diabetes, breathing problems during sleep or increased blood pressure are eliminated. The patient’s commitment is required for the weight loss effect with the gastric band. Weight loss can only be achieved with permanent changes in eating habits. The patient should largely avoid the consumption of sweets or high-calorie drinks. This is because both the drinks and, for example, chocolate can easily pass through the constriction and thereby trick the feeling of satiety.

Adjustable gastric bands

The gastric band is a band usually made of silicone. It is placed around the upper part of the stomach. There it forms a small “forestomach” to form. This forestomach can hold only a small amount of food. As a result, the gastric band prevents the patient from eating large amounts of solid food at one time. The band leads to a faster feeling of satiety. If he tries to eat more, there is a feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen and he may have to vomit.

For some years now, only adjustable gastric bands have been used in Turkey, which have a fluid chamber. Saline solution is filled there from the outside via a so-called port system. This port is a balloon that is inserted under the skin. It is usually located in the upper abdomen under the skin and is connected to the gastric band via a tube. Through the port, the surgeon can change the amount of fluid in the band and adjust the width of the band. A well-adjusted band should result in the patient being satiated after only a small amount.

Complications can arise during the procedure and anesthesia, mainly due to the patient’s obesity and concomitant diseases. In detailed preliminary examinations, the personal risk is assessed. Immediately after the procedure, as with any surgery, wound healing problems and infections may occur. High-calorie drinks and sweets should remain the exception despite gastric banding.

In United Kingdom, health insurance companies cover the costs of gastric banding if the medical necessity has been sufficiently proven. In addition, the insurance companies require that the patient has already made a medically controlled weight loss attempt, for example through cures or medically controlled diets. Hormonal or psychological causes for obesity must be ruled out.

Advantages

• The gastric band is filled with a saline solution and therefore can be flexibly adjusted after surgery
• A gastric band is a gentle surgical procedure. Because the stomach and digestive tract remain unchanged, there are fewer problems absorbing nutrients.
• It is possible to remove the gastric band again and thus reverse the operation. Therefore, it is a reasonable alternative especially for young women who wish to have children.
• As a rule, the body weight decreases by about 10 to 25% in the first year after insertion of a gastric band. Even in the second and third year after the procedure, the weight may still decrease somewhat.

Disadvantages

• In comparative studies, gastric banding was less effective than tubular stomach surgery or gastric bypass. Sometimes the weight loss is not enough.
• Possible side effects of gastric banding include heartburn and vomiting, for example, if the gastric band is too tight.
• The gastric band can slip, grow in, or tear. Sometimes it needs to be replaced or removed because of this.
• In studies, about 8 out of 100 people who had gastric band surgery had a complication.
• Up to 45 out of 100 people will have follow-up surgery at some point because they did not lose enough weight or a problem occurred with the gastric band.