Open operation

Sometimes laparoscopic surgery is not an option. This may be the case if you have already had an abdominal operation and adhesions are present (i.e. areas of tissue have grown together). It can happen that the surgeon decides, during the laparoscopic surgery, to change to the traditional 'open' method after all. This may happen, for example, if a haemorrhage occurs or if problems arise in putting the band in place. Then a larger incision will have to be made in the abdomen so that the operation can still be performed. You will be unaware of this while you are under the anaesthetic. After a more major operation of this kind, you will have to stay in hospital longer. It may also take a bit longer to return to your normal activities.

After the operation

Once the anaesthetic has worn off, you may be in some pain for a while. However, this can be very effectively relieved with ordinary painkillers. Nurses and physiotherapists will encourage you to get out of bed and start moving about as soon as possible after the operation. This is very important in order to prevent thrombosis, respiratory problems and bedsores. An X-ray is usually taken one day after the operation while you swallow a liquid which can be seen on X-ray. The reason for this is to check whether the LAP-BAND® System is in the right place and that the new outlet is open. You will remain in hospital for about three days.

In the early days after the operation you will find that at the end of the day you may feel somewhat tired sooner than usual. This is usually as a result of the anaesthetic. If no complications occur, you will be able to resume your normal activities within one week or two weeks.

"A number of examinations have to be carried out before a patient can undergo surgery. The patient also needs to visit the hospital dietician. The dietician will give him or her a food diary, in order to obtain a comprehensive picture. The aim is that the patient should keep a detailed diary of what he or she eats for a week. This diary is used to assess whether surgery will be helpful. We can only decide to carry out the operation involving a band around the stomach once we have the green light from all quarters. The patient is usually admitted the day before the operation. The results of all the examinations are checked again. Then I again explain to the patient what the operation involves, and the anaesthetist talks to him or her about the anaesthetic and the form of pain relief that will be used after the operation. When the patient has been admitted, he or she is also seen by a physiotherapist, with the accent being on respiratory therapy. After the operation, the patient may find it less easy to breathe deeply, and it may be painful to cough up mucus. So before the operation, the physiotherapist gives the patient instructions on the correct way to breathe and cough, so that pst-operative treatment can be carried out efficiently and well."