Dr. John DeBarros discusses the role of the port in the LAP-BAND® and REALIZE® Band devices. Dr. DeBarros is a member of The American Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeons and bariatric surgeon at Banner Estrella Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Dr. DeBarros:
In the Allergan version of the band there are two types of ports. One port is called a standard port and this is called an access to smaller size version port. So this port is different. The port is actually, the band is accessed by putting a small needle called a huber needle through the spongy part of the device itself and then it has a sort of a well in the back that we inject the saline into and it’s sort of a two-way valve that is pressurized that will keep the fluid actually in the device itself and not in the well, okay? So that’s essentially how it works.
Now the band here is typically re-sutured into place, but there are several methods for anchoring the band, some people actually use a mesh underneath to sort of secure.
Now the REALIZE® port is right here. The REALIZE® port is a little bit different, you know, the manufacturers have sort of developed this port with small anchor facets on the bottom of the port and basically, we use a device to anchor that in and it just snaps into place so there’s no suturing. Now the theory behind that is there’s a little less discomfort, but typically most of the band patients report discomfort for maybe a week with the Allergan port. However, that’s all very subjective as you know and pain is very subjective. I have had people with both that reported no discomfort at all.
About Dr. John J. DeBarros, M.D., F.A.C.S.:
Dr. John DeBarros is an experienced surgeon and board certified by the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a member of The American Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeons, The American College of Surgeons, The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons and the Maricopa Medical Society.
Keywords:
Condition: Obesity Morbid Obesity, Weight Loss, Morbidly Obese
Related Terms: Bariatric Surgery, Adjustable Gastric Band Procedure, Comorbidities, Nutrition, BMI, Weight Loss, Body Mass Index, LAP-BAND®, Gastric Bypass Surgery
Health Care Provider: Banner Hospital, Banner Medical Center, Banner Bariatric, Banner Estrella Medical Center, Banner Health, Banner Bariatric Center
Location: Phoenix, AZ, Arizona, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, 85037
Expert: Dr. John J. DeBarros, Dr. DeBarros, John J. DeBarros, M.D., Doctor DeBarros, Bariatric Surgery John DeBarros
Expertise: Weight Management, Restorative Health, Bariatric Surgery, Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery, LAP-BAND®, Adjustable Gastric Band, Gastric Bypass Surgery