What is the Fatality Rate With the Lap Band Surgery?

One of the newest and most promising forms of weight loss surgery for the morbidly obese is called the Lap Band, which involves the placement of an adjustable band to the upper part of the stomach to create a smaller pouch for food to enter and be digested. This procedure is said to create a feeling fullness after a relatively small meal and helps the patient to lose weight faster than by traditional dieting and exercise methods. Lap Band is reversible and can be adjusted to meet the dietary and physical needs of the patient. It's also considered much safer than other forms of weight loss surgery. However, since it's actually a surgery of the abdomen, Lap Band weight loss surgery carries with it certain risks.

Here are some of the risks, including current fatality rates of Lap Band surgery.

Infection - Just as in any form of surgery, but most often with gastric-abdominal surgery, Lap Band surgery carries a higher rate of infection than minor surgical procedures. The area that the Lap Band occupies, the upper part of the stomach, is particularly susceptible to infections or problems as a result of the cavity it occupies. In addition, stomach acid can cause problems if the stomach is ulcerated or perforated accidentally during the band placement or as it adjusts to the stomach itself. In some cases, the band has been known to actually cut into the stomach itself and cause ulcers or openings in the stomach, allowing acid and infections to start.

Slippage - Although there have been several modifications and improvements to the Lap Band over time and use, the band can sometimes slip off the intended portion of the stomach and cause problems. The band can become entangled in other areas of the stomach cavity or it can become ineffective when it slips off the area that creates the smaller stomach pouch. This can be reduced by careful monitoring of the band over time.

Herniation - if the stomach becomes overextended from the patient overeating, the band can cause the stomach to herniate. The catheter port that sits near the outside of the abdomen wall where the physician inserts fluid to adjust the band internally can also become herniated. Again, careful monitoring of the band and all its components, as well as careful adherence to a strict diet, may prevent this from occurring.

Fatality - Just as in any other form of surgery, there is always the risk of death. It's unfortunate that in some cases, Lap Band patients have died during the actual surgical procedure or from complications that occurred as a result of the Lap Band surgery. These fatalities may have included excessive blood loss during surgery, heart failure, stroke, leakage of stomach acids into the abdomen or post surgical infection. The current fatality rate for Lap Band surgery is less than 1%, so it is relatively safe as compared to other forms of weight loss surgery or morbid obesity in general.

If you are considering Lap Band weight loss surgery, you and your doctor should discuss all the possible advantages and risks associated with this procedure before-hand to get the best results.