Two-year follow-up of wound complications associated with laparoendoscopic single-site adjustable gastric banding

Background: In an effort to provide better cosmesis for patients, there has been a surge recently in the use of laparoendoscopic single-site adjustable gastric banding. There is little data, however, on the long-term wound complications resulting from this technique. Objective: The authors conducted a retrospective review of patients to identify the extent of wound complications found during a minimum follow-up period of 2 years after the laparoendoscopic single-site adjustable gastric banding procedure. Complications evaluated included infection, hernia rates, and port and tubing complications. Setting: All the laparoendoscopic single-site adjustable gastric banding cases were performed at University of Illinois Medical Center by a single surgeon. Methods: Twenty five patients underwent single-site laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding between March 2009 and January 2010 and were reviewed retrospectively. The single incision was made with multi-fascial trocar placement using conventional laparoscopic instruments. Patients were followed up during band adjustments, clinic visits, and via telephone interviews. Results: Six months after the surgery, one patient required port removal due to port site infection with internalization of the tubing. A second patient experienced a foul smelling clear discharge and was treated with antibiotics, with no additional consequences. No incisional hernias or flipped ports were noted. Conclusions: In our experience, laparoendoscopic single-site adjustable gastric banding produced a low rate of port and wound site complications in patients during a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. The authors believe this is a valid alternative to the standard procedure, providing cosmetic advantages and a low wound complication rate in morbidly obese patients.