Revisional surgery

What is Revisional surgery?

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Revisional surgery involves re-operating on people to improve their previous surgery. In Obesity surgery this can mean either improving the original situation for example when a Gastric Band slips and needs to be removed and replaced. It can also mean completely changing one operation to another for example removing a gastric band and conversion to a Roux En Y Gastric Bypass.

Revisional surgery is more complicated than primary surgery. It involves scar tissue from previous surgery, these are known as adhesions. Adhesions make the surgery more difficult and riskier.

Sleeve Gastrectomy for revision of failed gastric band

The option of sleeve gastrectomy for failed Gastric band has been controversial. The sleeve gastrectomy has now been shown to have excellent weight loss and long term (greater than 5 years) maintenance of weight loss. Our practice has performed more than 100 primary sleeve gastrectomies and now a number of revisional sleeve operations with excellent outcomes.

I recommend that the gastric band should be removed for a period of 3-6 months and the sleeve procedure performed after a period of rest. The sleeve can often be performed laparoscopically or keyhole. It is important to note that before any revisional surgery is contemplated a discussion with myself is very important to get a full idea as to the risks and benefits. You will find more information in the Sleeve Gastrectomy section of this website.

Who needs revision

Revisional surgery needs to be thought about very carefully. The original operation usually fails because of patient factors such as eating the wrong foods or lack of exercise. Sometimes the original operation may not have been the right choice in the first place. Technical problems such as a slipped band or band erosion may make it necessary to revise the original operation.

YOU MUST THINK VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE AGREEING TO FURTHER SURGERY

My Practice and Revisional surgery

I have extensive training in re-do or revisional surgery. I trained in a high volume revisional unit in Chichester, UK. I have performed a large number of revisional cases and have presented at Major meeting on this type of surgery. All complex cases are performed at Cabrini hospital and Epworth Freemasons.