Gastric Band Procedure

Procedure

Gastric Band procedures are performed under general anaesthesia and most procedures are performed at the Surgical Weight Loss Centre in Mississauga. Fellowship-trained anaesthetists with extensive experience in bariatric surgery will be performing the anaesthesia and directing the immediate post-surgical care. Patients with compromising health problems or previous major upper-abdominal surgery may require their surgery to be performed at the Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga.

Gastric Band procedure is minimally invasive and performed laparoscopically. A series of small puncture openings are made in the abdominal wall to accommodate the instruments. The abdominal cavity is filled with absorbable gas to create the space necessary to complete the procedure. Very rarely is it necessary to make a large incision to perform the surgery. If this possibility is anticipated during the consultation, it will be discussed thoroughly with the patient.

A tunnel is created around the upper stomach and the Gastric Band device is placed in the proper location. Sutures are placed to hold the Gastric Band in place and prevent it from sliding into a less optimal position (band slippage). Tubing from the Gastric Band is then attached to the port, which is placed under the skin and fat (but on top of the muscle) of the abdominal wall. During post-operative visits fluid can be injected through the port to precisely adjust the size of the Gastric Band and thus modify the size of the opening into the lower part of the stomach.

Many patients have a weakness or defect in the diaphragm muscle where the esophagus joins the stomach. This is known as a hiatus hernia. If the surgeon identifies a hiatus hernia at the time of surgery it will be repaired at the same time. This is done to minimize problems with heartburn and reflux symptoms that may occur as the Gastric Band is adjusted, and has been shown to reduce the incidence of slippage of the Gastric Band.

During the procedure patients will receive antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection, as well as special compression leg stockings and blood thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots in the veins of the legs.

The procedure usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete.