RISKS & BENEFITS
Risks of Gastric Banding
Risks Associated with Abdominal Surgery
- Bleeding
- Pain
- Shoulder pain
- Pneumonia
- Complications due to anesthesia and medications
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Injury to the stomach, esophagus, or surrounding organs
- Infection
- Pulmonary embolism
- Stroke or Heart Attack
- Death
Note: Risks are associated with any type of surgery, including abdominal surgery. These risks are greater for individuals who suffer from obesity.
Risks Associated with Gastric Banding Surgery
- Abdominal hernia
- Chest pain
- Collapsed lung
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Enlarged heart
- Gallstones, pain from passing a gallstone, inflammation of the gallbladder, or surgery to remove the gallbladder
- Gastrointestinal inflammation or swelling
- Stoma obstruction
- Stretching of the stomach
- Surgical procedure repeated
- Vomiting and nausea
Note: Your weight, age and medical history play a significant role in determining your specific risks. Your surgeon can inform you about your specific risks for bariatric surgery.
REALIZE™ Adjustable Gastric Band
U.S. Clinical Study Results Overview
- Long-term weight loss
- Improvement in obesity-related conditions
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cholesterol
- Improvement in quality of life
The FDA approved the REALIZE Band for use in the United States based upon results from a three-year clinical study. The study began with 276 patients, and 228 completed the study. For more information on the clinical study, call 1-866-REALIZE to order a REALIZE Patient Guide.
Improvement in Quality of Life
U.S. Clinical Study Results Overview
Patients reported:
- 68.8% reported their general health to be much better one year after surgery.
- A significant improvement in their vitality, mental health and social functioning three years after surgery.
- A significant improvement in the physical aspects of their quality of life three years after surgery.
Gastric Banding Contraindications
Situations where the risks are greater than the benefits that would be gained from surgery are contraindications. These include:
- Inflammation of the digestive tract, including ulcers, severe esophagitis, or Crohn’s disease
- Severe heart or lung disease
- Upper digestive tract bleeding conditions due to enlarged or fragile veins
- Portal hypertension
- Abnormal digestive tract anatomy
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Infection of any type, anywhere in your body
- Known allergies to the implant materials
- Using steroids for a long period of time or within 15 days of surgery
- Currently pregnant
- Younger than 18 years of age
- Unwilling to make significant changes in eating and behavior patterns
- Conditions or behaviors that would make it difficult to appropriately follow directions
REALIZE™ and REALIZE mySUCCESS™ are trademarks of Ethicon Endo-Surgery