Lap Band Surgery Fills
Lap band surgery is an innovation in bariatric surgery, which entails creating a smaller upper and larger lower pouch in the stomach, which are connected by a small opening called a stoma, by means of an adjustable silicon band placed around the stomach. This procedure is carried out laparoscopically, and the size of the gastric band can be adjusted according to the needs of the patient. The smaller pouch created due to the band ensures an early feeling of satiety which in turn ensures that the patient eats less and thus, loses weight.
The band used in lap band surgery is generally made of silicon and is adjustable, due to the presence of an inner band, which can be filled with saline as and when necessary. This maybe carried out as an out patient procedure by means of an access port which is left attached during the initial surgery and which may be visualized by a fluoroscopic X-ray. This process of adjusting the size of the gastric band is called lap band surgery fill.
To define it medically, it is controlling the size of the stoma by adding or subtracting saline from the inner balloon through the access port. It is often the lap band surgery fill which helps drive the rate of weight loss.
Lap band surgery fills are done only after six to eight weeks of weight loss, to allow the stomach to heal and adjust to the presence of a gastric band. The intensity of hunger, amount of restriction and the amount of weight loss are the main driving forces behind the need and the frequency of fills.
Some patients may not require second or third fills and a single fill alone may suffice. The repeat fills maybe carried out at four to six week intervals if necessary. The patient is told to focus on a high protein low carb diet during this period.
Finding the right amount of fills is based on many fluctuating factors such as weight loss, hydration, foods eaten, eating habits and metabolism. These fills need to be done slowly and gradually. Normally, it is a good idea to approach the operating surgeon for the placement of the first fill, and surgeons generally include the cost of the first fill in the cost of the surgery.
Certain precautions are necessary before embarking on lap band surgery fills
- Proper hydration should be maintained for two or three days before the fill by drinking adequate amounts of water.
- The upper, smaller pouch should be totally empty of food before the procedure.
- Solid foods are restricted six hours before the fill.
- Cold fluids are restricted one hour before the procedure since cold shrinks the size of the stoma.
- Fills are avoided just before, during and after menstruation since there generally is fluid retention at this time, which can lead to an improper size of the stoma.
- It is better to wait in the doctor`s office till one is comfortable with the size of the stoma.
- Solid food is to be avoided for a day after the fill to allow the stomach time to rest and heal.
Lap band surgery fill is the main advantage of lap band surgery because it ensures that the size of the stomach is adjusted according to the needs of the patient to ensure maximum weight loss and thus, provide an adequate treatment for morbid obesity and its complications. Carried out properly and in the right hands, lap band surgery is the chance for many many morbidly obese people to lead normal lives.
