Gastric necrosis, rare complication after laparoscopic gastric banding - case presentation

In the last years, laparoscopic gastric banding has become a popular surgical option for morbidly obese patients, because of the minimally invasive and easy surgical technique, its reversibility, and the possibility to calibrate the stoma. Gastric necrosis, as a complication of laparoscopic gastric banding, has been rarely reported. We present the case of a 34 -year-old pregnant patient (18 week pregnancy) with 5 days history of abdominal pain. She had undergone laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding 24 months earlier with a body mass index (BMI) of 43 kg/m2. Diagnostic workup was very difficult because the patient was pregnant and we can use only ultrasonography and clinically signs. After initial conservative management, the patient underwent urgent surgery and we found an anterior gastric prolapse through the band with necrosis of the herniated stomach. A longitudinal (sleeve) gastrectomy was performed. The postoperative evolution was god and the patient left our clinic after 9 day. Emergency sleeve gastrectomy could represent a good option to treat, in a safe way.