Complete Intra-Gastric Erosion of a Laparoscopic Vertical Gastric Clip

Background As severe obesity continues to be a serious and worsening medical challenge, there has been a corresponding interest in new therapies. Bariatric surgery remains the most effective and enduring therapy option. Newer techniques which aim to spare gastric anatomy have been introduced. One such procedure, known as the laparoscopic vertical clip gastroplasty (LVCG) or laparoscopic BariClip gastroplasty (LBCG), is intended to mimic the effects of a sleeve gastrectomy without requiring permanent anatomic alteration; however, this method is relatively new and not currently approved for use in the USA. Case Report Ten years after clip placement outside of the USA, a 44-year-old female presented to our bariatric clinic with intermittent nausea and abdominal pain. She was lost to follow-up after initial treatment at an outside institution but reported good initial weight loss with the clip; however, she noted slow weight regain over the past few years. The patient underwent an upper gastrointestinal fluoroscopy and upper endoscopy, which concluded complete erosion of the clip into the stomach. She underwent laparoscopic removal of the clip and has had an uneventful recovery with plans for bariatric surgery later.Conclusion Laparoscopic vertical clip gastroplasty (LVCG) is not a well-known procedure in the USA, and this is the first known reported case of a complete intragastric erosion of the clip necessitating removal. Regular follow-up and surveillance are needed to monitor potential complications, early migration, and possible erosion of these devices into the stomach.