Intragastric Band Erosion After Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding for Morbid Obesity: Imaging Characteristics of an Underreported Complication

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to describe the imaging findings of intragastric band erosion, an underreported complication after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for the treatment of morbid obesity. In this long-term complication, the gastric band fastened around the upper stomach to create a small proximal gastric pouch gradually erodes into the stomach wall and can extend into the gastric lumen. We present three cases of patients with band erosion in whom findings on an upper gastrointestinal series and CT established the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of intragastric band erosion after gastric banding is usually made with endoscopy. However, the radiologic appearance of band erosion when visualized on an upper gastrointestinal series is pathognomonic and allows initial imaging diagnosis. In patients with extraluminal air or prosthesis infection, CT findings also are suggestive of this postoperative complication.