Bariatric Surgery

Archive for the ‘Types of Surgery’ Category

Lap Band bariatric surgery is a major surgery performed on the stomach and intestines of people that are overweight to the point of obesity. The purpose of the surgery is to help them lose the excessive weight. There are two types of lap band surgery that both have the same weight loss for individuals. The two common procedures are Roux-en-Y, which closes off only part of the stomach and bypasses certain parts of the intestine. Gastric banding consists of a band being placed around the stomach to alter it to a smaller size resulting in reduction of food consumption.

Roux-en-Y and gastric banding both have long term weight loss, decreased mortality, recuperation of diabetes, and reduced cardiovascular risks as reported in numerous studies on weight loss and obesity. Bariatric surgery is the most common performed surgery for weight loss. In 2005, approximately 140,000 surgeries helped people effectively loss weight. It is a practice that has been performed over 50 years. It has long since reduced the complications for the patients providing a high rate of successful long-term weight loss.

The banding is either a permanent or a temporary procedure. In the permanent procedures, stomach is stapled or reduced to create a smaller stomach pouch to replace the originally larger stomach reducing the space for food and allowing for gradual weight loss. Gastric banding uses a silicone band that is adjustable by adding or removing saline by a small port that is placed under the skin. This type of surgery has been named “lap band” surgery due to the procedure of banding used on the stomach. It is performed laparscopically with a short time of recovery.

The banding surgery reduces the size of the stomach to reduce amounts of food consumed. The smaller size stomach requires the individuals to eat several smaller meals each day instead of the standard three meals a day practice. Laparoscopic lap band surgery requires a short-term hospital stay of two days. The Roux-en-Y surgery does not require a hospital stay.

The most popular type of lap banding is Roux-en-Y bariatric surgery. This surgery is the process of creating a smaller stomach that is stapled with a device then connected to the small intestine with the larger intestine reattached creating the “Y” shape, hence the name. After patients have either surgery, they are required to learn new eating habits along with an exercise routine to help manage their weight loss and maintenance for better long-term results.
People that have the bariatric lap band surgery have seen drastic weight loss and improve health conditions as well as a reduction of diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart disease.

Bariatric laparoscopic surgery is a surgery that is performed to alter the digestive system to reduce the size of the stomach for overweight or obese individuals. In Roux-en-Y bypass surgery, a pouch is created at the top area of the stomach with a bypass from the stomach to the lower or small intestines. The bypass of the surgery is to remove the usage of the large intestines from the digestive process.

The process of reducing the size of the stomach involves creating a sealed smaller stomach area that only holds a few ounces of food or liquid. The new stomach area is completely separate from the natural stomach and attached directly to the small intestines with a small incision that is secured in place with stitches to the newly created stomach.
Bariatric laparoscopic surgery changes the original stomach structure and digestive tract to reduce the amount of food consumption leading to drastic weight loss for people with issue of excessive weight. This type of weight loss surgery is the most widely preferred since it has a reduced amount of risks and negative side effects for the patients.

People that have used bariatric laparoscopic surgery for weight loss are required to learn new eating and diet habits. The individuals will need to learn to consume less food but eat more frequently to maintain an overall improved level of health. The behavior changes are crucial to long-term weight loss.
The laparoscopic surgery is performed with a small instrument that has a camera attached. It is inserted into the stomach area to help reduce the other procedures used as well as has a shorter recovery time and hospitalization. The healing time for this surgery is faster with limited scarring. It is surgery performed with general anesthesia to have the patient in a resting or sleep state without the standard grogginess of major surgery.

The healing of the patient and the recommendation of the surgeon about four hours with the time of hospitalization determine the general time for the surgery. Following the surgery, the patient is not allowed to eat regular foods for three days to allow the stomach to heal properly from the surgery. Following the three days, a strict diet is to be followed for twelve weeks consisting of soft or pureed foods followed by a gradual introduction of regular foods. This slow process is to allow the stomach to recover from the reconstructive measures used in the surgery.

Bariatric bypass surgery has many benefits for obese individuals. The surgery offers long-term weight loss, improved or resolved issues with Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, high cholesterol, as well

as other health related issues. The fact obese or severely overweight individuals have health issues leads many to have the bariatric bypass surgery. Several bariatric bypass procedures available are beneficial to the improved overall health and weight loss plans of individuals.

The LAP-BAND is an adjustable gastric banding often called LAGB. This process consists of the surgeon using an inflatable band to section the stomach into two sections with the band wrapping around the upper section of the stomach. The surgeon tightens the band to create small channel connecting the two sections of the stomach. This procedure is designed to be permanent or long-term. The band can be adjusted by the surgeon or completely removed later. LAGB is the most popular surgical procedure since it is less complicated and a simpler procedure. It has a slower weight loss for the patient. It is not recommended for individuals with a history of gastric ulcers, large hiatal hernias, or Crohns’ disease.

Vertical banding surgery is often referred to as stomach stapling. The procedure divides the stomach into two sections reducing the space in the stomach for food resulting is reduction of food consumption and weight loss. This procedure does not require a bypass to be performed. The procedure creates a smaller stomach area with the upper portion of the stomach allowing the foods and liquids to be emptied into the lower portion of the stomach. This procedure has become used less than the other procedures, as it does not have adequate long-term weight loss.

Biliopancreatic is a procedure that requires the removal of 80% of the stomach with the food then passing directly to the small intestine. The procedure bypasses a large portion of the small intestine that is directly connected to the lower portion of the stomach. This procedure is often used only on individuals with a body mass index over 50 or considered extremely obese. This procedure has long-term effects and overall satisfaction of the patients for their weight loss goals.