Suspected gastric band leak?
You may be failing to lose weight with your gastric band and don’t know why. If you are following the dietary guidelines but the band is not giving you that early feeling of fullness that you should expect, and that you used to feel, it may be that your band, and not you, is the problem. If you suspect this may be the case, then it might be worth having a gastric band review to check if your band is leaking.
Our leak review comprises a two-step process. The first step is a short series of clinic review appointments with one of our bariatric nurses to check the fill volume in your band. This will give an indication if there is a leak. It will not be conclusive in isolation but a fill discrepancy, where their actual volume is lower than expected, would trigger an x-ray band adjustment to look for a leak from the band system (port, tubing and band itself).
Tubing and band leaks
There is a weak point in all gastric bands where the access port connects to the band itself. The different types of bands make this connection in different places and in different ways.
Whatever approach is used it remains, unavoidably, a weak point. It is usually referred to as a tubing leak and these leaks are often identifiable on x-ray. If a tubing leak is discovered, we will conduct a band removal which would be a day case procedure. Alternatively, a consultation with your surgeon may result in a band to bypass procedure being an option.
Call us today on 0121 693 4488 or click the pink button to arrange a call with one of our experts.
Port leak
When we know the band is losing fluid, the clue that it is the access port that is leaking (and not the tubing or band itself) is that the saline (salt water) we draw from the band is ‘gin clear’. This is important because these leaks cannot usually be seen under x-ray examination.
If your band is leaking from the access port it would require a band removal which would be a day case procedure. Alternatively, a consultation with your surgeon may result in a band to bypass procedure being an option.
Call us today on 0121 693 4488 or click the pink button to arrange a call with one of our experts.
There are several reasons why bands leak and sometimes it’s impossible to find the precise reason. The most common reasons are:
Usually this is when the band leaks at the site of the access port. The manufacturer explains that leaks can occur and this risk is impossible to eradicate. That’s of no consolation to the patients who experience them but fortunately these types of leak are few in number.
In some patients the tubing will fracture. It’s impossible to tell for sure why this happens and there are differing theories about it. The most common are that there could be a twist in the tubing that over time causes the tubing to perish. Another is that the tubing becomes kinked in the stomach simply due to the way the band sits in the abdominal cavity. It’s normally impossible to establish exactly why tubing fractures occur. The fracture will usually appear where the band tubing links to the access port (for a Bioring gastric band) or where the port tubing connects to the band tubing for an Apollo AP band. This connection of port and band is always the weakest point in the band system.
Occasionally a tubing leak arises from an attempted band adjustment. Sometimes ports sit deep below the surface of the skin and are hard to access. No matter how skilful the band fill nurse who adjusts your band there will be bands where the tubing is punctured instead of the access port. These types of leaks are usually visible on x-ray.
Price and finance plans
We have a range of finance plans to help you get the help you need with your gastric band. Read here to see our price and finance guide for gastric band revisions. Everyone’s situation is different and our prices are tailored to each individual, arrange an expert call to get a more accurate quote.
Call us today on 0121 693 4488 or click the pink button to arrange a call and talk to one of our experts.
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