Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding: Under-diagnosed late respiratory complications

With the current epidemic of obesity in Australia, bariatric surgery has become increasingly accessible for patients with a body mass index above 35 kg/m2. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is currently the weight loss surgery of choice for its perceived simplicity and its low peri-operative complication and mortality rates. The short term complications and long term benefits of sustained weight loss with LAGB are well described but the medium term respiratory complications are less clearly appreciated. We report three cases with LAGB who presented with significant respiratory tract symptoms to the Nepean Hospital in New South Wales, a teaching hospital with a busy LAGB service, during the period from January to March 2012.