What is a Band slip ? re-post

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What is a " Band slip ?

One of the serious potential problems with a Band is called a " Band

Slip. " The latest stats re band slips and erosions are now 3-7%. This

is a worrisome increase from the 1-3% rate it has been since FDA

approval in the US.

" BAND SLIP " however, is a very misleading term, because it's not the

band that moves at all; it is securely sutured in place. With

a " slip " the stomach moves up (herniates) thru the band, so it is in

a dangerous position.

There are different kinds of slips, with different symptoms. I often

read on other boards that slips always cause sudden inability to eat

or drink, but this is NOT TRUE at all.

A " small " slip, also called a " concentric slip " , occurs when the

pouch dilates from an overfill or overeating. The symptoms are SUBTLE

and easily blamed on other things. There can be a bit of new reflux,

finding you can eat more and more over time, ability to eat things

you could not before, etc. As you can see, all these things are

common with NORMAL band weight loss and are NOT clear signs of a

slip.

This is why periodic fluoros are a very wise thing - maybe every 6

months or so, or whenever there is a concern. I personally do not

believe, and most docs also do not believe, that a fluoro with every

single fill is needed or safe. I got and get now only the yearly

assessment fluoro. I never got a fluoro with any fill. IMO, Radiation

exposure is very good to avoid unless really needed. While the

radiation involved with a fluoro is small, NO radiation is entirely

safe, especially when the ovaries are right in the radiation field.

My opinion only, after research and discussing with many band

surgeons over the years.

CAUSES of these " small slips " , also called pouch dilations:

1.Trying to keep a too-tight fill ! Avoiding too-tight fills means

knowing (being taught) the definition of a too-tight fill and never

keeping one, thinking/praying it will lead to better loss. not only

does it often stall OUT weight loss, it leads to serious problems

sooner or later. It is VERY VERY hard to get out of the mind-set

of " weight loss at ANY cost " .

2. consistently eating more than 1-1.5 cups of food (after we have a

decent fill) whether we " can " or not. This type of slip can often

occur, especially, in those out 1-5 yrs, if they are not careful to

self-limit eating. After a time, it seems the esophagus does not give

reliable " soft stop " signs any longer - or perhaps we have learned to

ignore them and keep eating. This is a big reason we should work hard

on the emotional eating and lifestyle changes, so we just DON'T

overeat and eat mindlessly any longer. This is the hardest part of

banding, IMO. It's not jut about weight loss.

3. regular barfing/Pb's. IMO, more than 1-2x a month is TOO MUCH, and

we just HAVE to learn the band rules to eat safely. If we are barfing

regularly more than this, I believe we have too much fill for the

level of our band learning, and need some out while we learn better

habits to stay safe.

FIXES: These types of " small " slips , also called a pouch dilation,

are usually fixed by a complete unfill and rest period of a few weeks

to 1-2 months. the stomach then often can shrink back into a good,

safe position, and small, gradual refills can begin again. i

believe, after any dilation, that we have to be especially careful to

avoid another to tight fill.

Causes of these slips: trying to keep a too-tight fill, overeating,

barfing.

The " big slips " are far more serious. They are usually sudden, and

people have a very major change - usually inability to eat or drink

without pain and/or barfing. These slips can be very urgent, or

occasionally a real emergency, since the stomach can strangulate.

Thankfully, they are not very common (maybe around 3-4%)but require

urgent care. This is why, IMO, we must always know where to go and

prepare ahead of time, for local care by a very knowledgeable band

practitioner. I believe we must arrange for this before we are

banded, and it should be discussed by he Patient facilitators well

before banding. a few people have needed urgent local care and

sometimes re-hospitalization within the first few days of getting

home from surgery.

When one is in severe pain and vomit ting continually, it's not

practical or safe to try to get back on a plane to return to Mexico,

at last-minute plane fares. It's important to know that most ER's and

medical centers will not and cannot help with a band problem, as it

is a VERY specialized area. We must go to a medical center that does

bands, and hope they will accept a Mexican patient. Pathetically,

many will not.

CAUSES of big slips : almost always, it is from trying to keep a too-

tight fill that results in barfing and food intolerance.

FIXES: Most big slips require an emergency band removal. sometimes, a

new band can be placed at the same time. The new surgery is often

tougher than the first, because there is a lot of scar tissue to

remove and fit the band around. Sometimes, replacement is not

possible at removal, but may be possible after 6 months or so of

healing. There is an increased chance of another erosion if the band

is placed

again, though.

As always, PREVENTION of band problems is key to safety and success.

This requires ongoing teaching and ongoing learning to stay safe,

assess problems, and know when to get quick help.

c. sandy r, BSN, MN

band educator

at goal 4.75 ys