[Intragastric penetration of a gastric band -- a severe complication after gastric banding?].

In morbid obese patients the adjustable laparoscopic gastric banding is an effective procedure with a widespread acceptance. Pouch dilatation, band slipping, port-penetration and port infection are the most known complications. We report on three patients with a penetration of an adjustable gastric band. The main symptom of penetration was the increase of weight. The reasons for penetration are a lesion of the serosa intraoperatively or a overfilling of the band. In our patients the treatment was in two cases the explantation of the band. In one case the patient showed no signs of peritonitis and didn't want the explantation of the band. Our recommendation in case of penetration is the removal of the band, because every penetration can be the source of a lethal outcome.