REVISIONS OF PREVIOUS WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

Revision bariatric surgery is the repair, modification, or conversion of a previous weight loss operation. Revision surgery started as surgery for the later complications that can develop with weight loss operations. As more and more people are undergoing weight loss surgery, and as we learn more about it revision surgery has become a second chance at weight loss

The most common operation undergoing revision surgery is the lap-Band operation. The most common revision operation performed is the conversion of the Lap-band operation to a sleeve or bypass operation. The most common reasons for the conversion are:

band intolerance (inability to eat solid food)
esophageal dilatation,
obstructing Lap-band
Lap-band slippage (pouch enlargement)

The second most common revision operation is the conversion of a sleeve gastrectomy to a gastric bypass for:

intractable heartburn/reflux
stricture / torsion of sleeve
Biliary reflux/gastritis/esophagitis

The most common complications requiring revision are:

No weight loss / regaining weight
Gastro-Gastric Fistula
Large bypass/BPD pouches
Marginal ulcer at the gastro-jejunal anastomosis
Large sleeve
obstructions

Diagram showing three stages of gastric surgery: gastric bypass with a small pouch connecting to the small intestine, gastric band with an adjustable band around the stomach, and gastric sleeve where part of the stomach is removed.

Illustration demonstrating two long-term complications of a medical condition: during overeating, the stomach stretches out, and with esophageal dilation, the esophagus stretches out.