Impact of Gastric Prolapse after Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding for Morbid Obesity

Gastric prolapse (GP) after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) remains a complication that has the potential to result in significant morbidities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of GP after LAGB and to determine its impact on patient outcomes among the morbidly obese. From 2005 to 2012, 379 consecutive morbidly obese patients underwent LAGB procedures at a single institution. Patients were placed into two groups based on the occurrence of gastric prolapse (GP vs no GP). Patient demographics and risk factors, operative features, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed by univariate analyses to assess the impact of GP. Average patient age was 47 ± 29 years and patients were commonly female (80%) with a median body mass index (BMI) of 44 kg/m². Incidence of GP was 4.2 per cent (n = 16). LAGB median BMIs at 1 month and 1 year were 41 and 36 kg/m₂. There was no difference in 1-year weight loss (BMI GP: 36 kg/m^{2 vs} no GP: 36 kg/m², P = 0.617). Laparoscopic gastric banding results in significant weight reduction and a low incidence of gastric prolapse. Gastric prolapse has no difference in 1-year postoperative median BMI when compared with patients who did not prolapse.