Small bowel obstruction secondary to intragastric erosion and migration of a gastric band

We describe what we believe to be the first reported case of intragastric erosion and migration to the jejenum of a laparoscopically inserted gastric band, 3 months after the original bariatric surgery was performed. This had caused ulceration and necrosis of the small bowel as the tension in the port tubing had caused the bowel to become concertinaed over it and resulted in a cheese-wire effect through the jejunal convolutions. As bariatric surgery becomes more common, patients with complications of their procedure may present to the general surgeon as an emergency. We recommend early intervention in patients with gastric erosion.