Urgencies and Emergencies

If soon (or even immediately) after a fill you feel that liquids don't go down or return into your mouth, the band is TOO TIGHT. This can only be resolved by "deflation" of the band. If you wait too long this situation can lead to slippage of the band.

It is important after a deflation or unfill to take only liquids for 1 week or 10 days and to take acid-blockers to resolve the swelling

If you have PB (productive burping) or persistant vomiting after the ingestion of food, or because you didn't chew well enough, and this lasts for more than one day without any spontaneous improvement you also need an urgent deflation or unfill

24/7Emergency unfill service

We are available 7 days a week from 9 AM till 5 PM on the emergency telephone number

UK

• 0044 7901822393 (Karen)
• 0044 7951603807 (Jan –London) or
• 0044 7920821301 (Marie – Luton)

Ireland

• For emergency unfills in Ireland please call Lu Kellett on 0872 391 898

Scotland

• Please call Mary Conlon on 07763 697 120. Please leave a message including your telephone number if the call isn't taken. Your call will be returned as soon as possible

The emergency unfills are done at our clinic in London and cost £ 80

Remember to stay calm. You are not in a life-threatening situation and being anxious will only worsen the situation.

Pain at the port site or any abdominal pain in combination with a sudden loss of restriction can be an indication of disconnection or rupture of the tubing This is not a serious or dangerous condition but it requires a minor surgical repair.

Acid reflux and heartburn especially at night can occur after a recent adjustment, after PB and vomiting or after food-blockage of the band. You should return to a liquid diet and take medication. If no substantial improvement occurs, you will need an "unfill".

Slippage of the band is the nightmare of every band patient. When there is any abnormal event: no weight loss, pain, acid reflux, PB, vomiting - even for a short period -, the first question will be: "Doctor could my band have slipped ?" The mechanism of slippage is very simple: first there is a dilatation of the upper gastric portion resulting in the creation of a pouch (see figure).

At this stage a deflation can resolve the problem. If no appropriate therapy is undertaken the pouch becomes larger and pulls an important part of the lower stomach above the band, resulting in twist of the band in a horizontal or reversed oblique position with complete obstruction. Deflation and X-ray control are the first steps needed, sometimes the worst case scenario would be a re-positioning.