Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Band Infection with Splenoportal Venous Thrombosis: An Unusual but Severe Complication of Gastric Banding

  • Published:
Obesity Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Background: Band infection after gastric banding is a relatively rare complication. In most cases, it is manifested by abdominal pain associated with fever, and/or an abscess surrounding the access port.The treatment of choice consists of band removal and antibiotic therapy, and is usually effective. Methods: Among the 322 patients having undergone gastric banding in our department, we report a 31-year-old woman who developed an infection of the band complicated by splenic and portal vein thrombosis 21 months after gastric banding. Results: BMI was 40.9 kg/m2 when she underwent gastric banding. Postoperative course was uneventful, and excess weight loss reached 105% after 18 months. An abdominoplasty combined with bilateral mammoplasty and thigh dermolipectomy were performed. About 3 weeks later, she developed an otitis with fever and left upper abdominal pain. Despite antibiotics, pain and fever persisted. The operative wounds showed no sign of infection, and there was no sign of peritonitis. Computerized tomography showed a left subdiaphragmatic abscess surrounding the catheter and thrombosis of the splenic and portal veins. Treatment consisted of band removal, antibiotics and heparin. Recovery was uneventful with complete resolution of the thrombosis. Conclusions: Late band infection after gastric banding is rare, and is usually secondary to band erosion. Our case demonstrates that severe band infection can be caused by any infection causing bacteremia. Prompt band removal along with antibiotic therapy is the treatment of choice. Rapid treatment of any infection is mandatory in patients with a gastric band. Antibiotic prophylaxis during surgical and dental procedures could be useful in these patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Calmes, J.M., Bettschart, V., Raffoul, W. et al. Band Infection with Splenoportal Venous Thrombosis: An Unusual but Severe Complication of Gastric Banding. OBES SURG 12, 699–702 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1381/096089202321019729

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1381/096089202321019729

Navigation