Severe Obesity And The Use Of Gastric Bands During Pregnancy

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Article Date: 10 Dec 2009 - 5:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Bariatric surgery is used to treat morbid obesity. A common treatment is gastric banding where a constricting device is tied around the stomach to regulate food intake and appetite. According to a doctor presenting a case study at the 8th RCOG International Scientific Meeting, if a patient is pregnant, the gastric band may need releasing to prevent pregnancy complications.

Dr Neena Garg, a specialist trainee in obstetrics and gynaecology from Dewsbury District Hospital, dealt with a case of 33-year old patient who sought help at Rotherham Hospital for severe morning sickness and significant weight loss when she was 17 weeks pregnant. Prior to falling pregnant, she underwent a laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding because of obesity.

Doctors found she was severely malnourished. To correct this, parenteral nutrition was given and she received multivitamin supplements. The gastric band was released and this led to some improvement. Due to further deterioration, the gastric band was removed laparoscopically at 21 weeks. The patient was followed-up with serial growth scans and had a normal full-term vaginal delivery.

Dr Garg said, "Our case study shows that women who have had bariatric surgery may require release of the band when they become pregnant to avoid pregnancy complications.

"When a woman is pregnant, she needs to take extra care of her diet. She must eat healthily so that the fetus receives the nourishment it needs to grow. This includes having well-balanced meals and the recommended nutritional supplements. A gastric band may prevent these essential nutrients from reaching the mother and baby and has been shown to induce the unpleasant side effect of nausea.

"Pregnant women who have had bariatric surgery should therefore inform their doctors and midwives so that an assessment could be made and further action taken."

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 8th International Scientific Meeting is taking place in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, from Monday 7 to Wednesday 9 December 2009. The meeting is held in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Health Services Co. (SEHA) and sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. For more information about the meeting, please click here.

Source
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

• Additional
• References
• Citations