Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Friday, February 23, 2007
The Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery continues to benefit people struggling with morbid obesity worldwide. Most importantly, bariatric surgery saves lives. Facts supporting the effectiveness of bariatric surgery as a weight loss tool and as treatment for obesity-related health conditions grow each month. Recent studies show that bariatric surgery patients are living longer lives. You also can see the benefits of bariatric surgery when you look back on how individual lives have improved.
Although there are benefits, this surgery is not without risks. It’s important to consider each risk in making your decision. Click here to learn more about the risks of surgery.
Reduction in Mortality (Extended Life Expectancy)Reduced life span due to obesity is important to consider. Compared to a person of normal weight, a 25-year-old obese man has a reduced life span, and he can expect a loss of about 12 years of life. Bariatric surgery has been shown to improve life span by reducing excess body weight. In a recent study, bariatric surgery reduced overall morbidity and the development of new health-related conditions in morbidly obese patients. Bariatric surgery reduced the relative risk of death by 89 percent with an absolute mortality reduction of 5.49 percent.
Resolution of Obesity-Related Health ConditionsBariatric surgery has been shown to impact obesity-related health conditions. Recent studies have indicated:
Through gastric bypass surgery, patients have shown more than 83 percent resolution in type 2 diabetes.
Patients experienced up to 88 percent resolution in obstructive sleep apnea, while another group noted 75 percent resolution in hypertension.
More than 70 percent of patients saw an improvement in their hyperlipidemia.
Obesity-related health conditions that may be improved or resolved with bariatric surgery include:
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure/heart disease
Dyslipidemia (lipid metabolism abnormalities)
Osteoarthritis of weight-bearing joints
Depression
Sleep apnea/respiratory problems
Gastroesophageal reflux/heartburn
Infertility
Urinary stress incontinence
Menstrual irregularities
Asthma
Skin breakdown
Swollen legs/skin ulcers
Extremity venous stasis
Long-Term Weight LossBariatric surgery is an effective weight loss treatment. A recent study established the following criterion for successful bariatric surgery: the ability to achieve and maintain loss of at least 50 percent of excess body weight without significantly undesirable effects. Typical results for bariatric surgery meet this success criterion. The majority of people who have bariatric surgery are able to keep off at least half of their excess body weight long term.
The amount of weight a patient will lose after the procedure depends upon several factors.
These include:
Patient’s age
Weight before surgery
Overall condition of the patient’s health
Surgical procedure
Ability to exercise
Commitment to maintaining dietary guidelines and other follow-up care
Motivation of patient and help from family, friends, and associates
Surgical treatment, although not without risk, is the most effective long-term treatment for extreme obesity and is likely to be used more widely given that the number of Americans with a BMI > 40 has nearly tripled in the last decade.20 In 2004, approximately 140,600 bariatric surgeries were performed in order to treat morbid obesity.20 An estimated 173,000 people will have bariatric surgery in 2005.
Lifestyle Opportunities Bariatric surgery, by reducing excess body weight and improving overall health, can improve patients’ lives in many personal ways. Some benefits are common among patients; others are unique to each individual patient.
Here are some of the surgery benefits:
Improved job or career prospects
Reduced shortness of breath
Increased energy level
Regularly get a good night of sleep
Greater confidence
Improved dating life
Greater variety in choice of clothes
Exercise is more rewarding
Here are a few activities and changed behaviors patients have enjoyed:
I put on a bathing suit for the first time in 22 years.
It’s more enjoyable to be outdoors.
I walk farther than I used to.
Now I ride my bike, walk, and go hunting and fishing.
I’m able to ride roller coasters with my daughter.
It’s easier to play and be active with the family.
Traveling is more enjoyable.
Bariatric surgery continues to benefit people struggling with morbid obesity worldwide. Most importantly, bariatric surgery saves lives. Facts supporting the effectiveness of bariatric surgery as a weight loss tool and as treatment for obesity-related health conditions grow each month. Recent studies show that bariatric surgery patients are living longer lives. You also can see the benefits of bariatric surgery when you look back on how individual lives have improved.
Although there are benefits, this surgery is not without risks. It’s important to consider each risk in making your decision. Click here to learn more about the risks of surgery.
Reduction in Mortality (Extended Life Expectancy)Reduced life span due to obesity is important to consider. Compared to a person of normal weight, a 25-year-old obese man has a reduced life span, and he can expect a loss of about 12 years of life. Bariatric surgery has been shown to improve life span by reducing excess body weight. In a recent study, bariatric surgery reduced overall morbidity and the development of new health-related conditions in morbidly obese patients. Bariatric surgery reduced the relative risk of death by 89 percent with an absolute mortality reduction of 5.49 percent.
Resolution of Obesity-Related Health ConditionsBariatric surgery has been shown to impact obesity-related health conditions. Recent studies have indicated:
Through gastric bypass surgery, patients have shown more than 83 percent resolution in type 2 diabetes.
Patients experienced up to 88 percent resolution in obstructive sleep apnea, while another group noted 75 percent resolution in hypertension.
More than 70 percent of patients saw an improvement in their hyperlipidemia.
Obesity-related health conditions that may be improved or resolved with bariatric surgery include:
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure/heart disease
Dyslipidemia (lipid metabolism abnormalities)
Osteoarthritis of weight-bearing joints
Depression
Sleep apnea/respiratory problems
Gastroesophageal reflux/heartburn
Infertility
Urinary stress incontinence
Menstrual irregularities
Asthma
Skin breakdown
Swollen legs/skin ulcers
Extremity venous stasis
Long-Term Weight LossBariatric surgery is an effective weight loss treatment. A recent study established the following criterion for successful bariatric surgery: the ability to achieve and maintain loss of at least 50 percent of excess body weight without significantly undesirable effects. Typical results for bariatric surgery meet this success criterion. The majority of people who have bariatric surgery are able to keep off at least half of their excess body weight long term.
The amount of weight a patient will lose after the procedure depends upon several factors.
These include:
Patient’s age
Weight before surgery
Overall condition of the patient’s health
Surgical procedure
Ability to exercise
Commitment to maintaining dietary guidelines and other follow-up care
Motivation of patient and help from family, friends, and associates
Surgical treatment, although not without risk, is the most effective long-term treatment for extreme obesity and is likely to be used more widely given that the number of Americans with a BMI > 40 has nearly tripled in the last decade.20 In 2004, approximately 140,600 bariatric surgeries were performed in order to treat morbid obesity.20 An estimated 173,000 people will have bariatric surgery in 2005.
Lifestyle Opportunities Bariatric surgery, by reducing excess body weight and improving overall health, can improve patients’ lives in many personal ways. Some benefits are common among patients; others are unique to each individual patient.
Here are some of the surgery benefits:
Improved job or career prospects
Reduced shortness of breath
Increased energy level
Regularly get a good night of sleep
Greater confidence
Improved dating life
Greater variety in choice of clothes
Exercise is more rewarding
Here are a few activities and changed behaviors patients have enjoyed:
I put on a bathing suit for the first time in 22 years.
It’s more enjoyable to be outdoors.
I walk farther than I used to.
Now I ride my bike, walk, and go hunting and fishing.
I’m able to ride roller coasters with my daughter.
It’s easier to play and be active with the family.
Traveling is more enjoyable.
Alternative names Bariatric Surgery - Gastric Bypass; Roux-en-Y gastric Bypass
Definition Gastric bypass surgery is one type of procedure that can be used to cause significant weight loss if you are very obese. The surgery reduces your body's intake of calories. Calorie reduction is accomplished in two ways:
1. After the surgery, your stomach is smaller. You feel full faster and learn to reduce the amount that you eat at any given time.
2. Part of your stomach and small intestines are literally bypassed (skipped over) so that fewer calories are absorbed. Unfortunately, sometimes nutrients are lost as well.
The surgery is only right for you if you meet certain strict criteria described later in this article.
Description:Prior to any weight loss operation, your doctor will give you a complete medical examination and evaluate your overall health.
A psychological evaluation will be given to you. This will determine whether you are ready to adhere to a healthier lifestyle. If you are not ready to make lifestyle changes (and have not tried hard to do so already), you will not be considered eligible for the procedure. Without changing your lifestyle, the surgery will not be a success. You will also receive extensive nutritional counseling before (and after) your surgery.
The surgery is performed under anesthesia. There are two basic steps:
STEP 1 -- The first step in the surgical procedure makes your stomach smaller. The surgeon divides the stomach into a small upper section and a larger bottom section using staples that are similar to stitches. The top section of the stomach (called the pouch) will hold your food.
STEP 2 -- After the stomach has been divided, the surgeon connects a section of the small intestine to the pouch. When you eat, the food will now travel from the pouch through this new connection ("Roux limb"), bypassing the lower portion of the stomach. The surgeon will then reconnect the base of the Roux limb with the remaining portion of the small intestines from the bottom of the stomach, forming a y-shape.
This "y-connection" allows food to mix with pancreatic fluid and bile, aiding the absorption of important vitamins and minerals. You still may experience poor absorption of certain nutrients.
The risk of malabsorption is of greater concern in gastric surgeries that skip over a larger portion of the small intestines. These are performed much less commonly than the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass as described.
LAPAROSCOPY
Gastric bypass can be performed using a laparoscope. This less-invasive technique allows the surgeon to make smaller incisions, which lowers the risk of large scars and hernias after the procedure.
First, small incisions are made in your abdomen. The surgeon passes slender surgical instruments through these narrow openings. The surgeon also passes a camera (laparoscope) through one of these small openings and watches through a lens and video monitor to do the surgery.
TYPES OF WEIGHT LOSS SURGERIES
Weight loss surgery can be divided into three types:
Restrictive procedures reduce the size of your stomach.
Malabsorptive procedures alter the flow from your stomach to your intestine, causing poor absorption of calories, vitamins, and minerals in the intestine.
Combination procedures involve characteristics of both restrictive and malabsorptive procedures.
Gastric bypass surgeries are combination procedures that use both restriction and malabsorption to achieve weight loss.
Because it is a combination approach, it tends to be more successful for weight loss than purely restrictive surgeries. However, your body may not absorb vitamins and minerals properly.
Restrictive-only procedures are not as successful. It is easy to "cheat" and eat too much food, over-stretching the newly created stomach pouch.
A newer procedure, called the Lap-Band, uses a band around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch to hold food. The band limits the amount of food you can eat, and increases the time it takes the intestines to digest the food. Your doctor can later adjust the band to allow food to pass more slowly or quickly through your digestive system. Possible complications include nausea, vomiting and gastroesophageal reflux.
Indications:
Gastric bypass surgery may be an option if you are significantly obese and have tried unsuccessfully to lose weight on diet and exercise programs and are unlikely to lose weight successfully with non-surgical methods.
Gastric bypass surgery is not a "quick fix" for obesity. The surgery can take several hours and has risks and possible complications. For example, vomiting following the surgery is not uncommon because of eating more than the new, small stomach can accommodate.
Your commitment to diet and exercise must be very strong because even after the surgery, you must adhere to these lifestyle changes. Otherwise, complications from the surgery are likely to develop.
The procedure may be considered for obese individuals who have:
A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more. BMI is a calculation based on height and weight that is used to determine whether you are of normal weight or are overweight. Someone with a BMI of 40 or more is at least 100 pounds over their recommended weight. A normal BMI is between 18.5 and 25.
A BMI of 35 or more along with a life-threatening illness that can be made better with weight loss, such as sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
LAPAROSCOPY
Not everyone is a candidate for the laparoscopic (minimally invasive) approach. You are probably NOT a good candidate for laparoscopy if you weigh more than 350 pounds. Others who have had past abdominal surgery may also not be candidates, due to scar tissue. Your surgeon will determine the best and safest approach for you.
Risks:
The risks of gastric bypass surgery include:
Bleeding or Infections
Follow-up surgeries to correct complications, or to remove excess skin
Gallstones due to significant weight loss in a short amount of time
Gastritis (inflammation of the lining of the stomach)
Vomiting from eating more than the stomach pouch can hold
Iron or vitamin B12 deficiencies (if they occur) can lead to anemia.
Calcium deficiency (if it occurs) can contribute to the development of early osteoporosis or other bone disorders
Follow up surgeries may be less likely if gastric bypass is performed with a laparoscope.
Another common complication from gastric bypass is "dumping syndrome." The symptoms often include:
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Bloated feeling
Dizziness
Sweating
You can lessen these symptoms by following your dietitian's guidelines very carefully, especially during the first two months after surgery.
Expectations after surgery:
The weight loss results of gastric bypass surgery are generally good. Most patients lose an average of 10 pounds per month and reach a stable weight between 18 and 24 months after surgery. Often, the greatest rate of weight loss occurs in the very beginning (that is, just following the surgery when you are still on a liquid diet).
After the surgery, you will need to follow up with your doctor fairly often during the first year. During those visits, your physician will be evaluating your physical and mental health status, including any change in weight and your nutritional needs. You will likely see a dietitian during those visits as well.
The surgery is not a solution in and of itself. While it can train you to eat smaller quantities and feel full more quickly, you still have to do much of the work. To achieve weight loss and avoid complications from the procedure, you must exercise and eat properly -- according to important, healthy guidelines that your doctor and nutritionist will teach you.
Recovery :
Most people typically stay in the hospital for a few days or less after gastric bypass surgery. Some may need to stay 4 to 5 days. Your doctor will approve your discharge to home once you can do the following:
Move without too much discomfort
Eat liquid and/or pureed food without vomiting
No longer require pain medication given by injection
You will remain on liquid or pureed food for several weeks after the surgery. Even after that time, you will feel full very quickly, sometimes only being able to take a few bites of solid food. This is because the new stomach pouch initially only holds a tablespoonful of food. The pouch eventually expands. However, it will hold no more than about one cup of thoroughly chewed food (a normal stomach can hold up to one quart).
Upon follow up, your doctor will determine if you need replacement of iron, calcium, vitamin B12, or other nutrients such as Protein. Supplements, such as a multivitamin with minerals, will be prescribed to provide any nutrients that you may not be getting from your diet. This lack of nutrients can occur because you are eating less and because the food moves through your digestive system more quickly.
Once your diet begins to consist of more solid food, remember to chew each bite very slowly and thoroughly.
You will be instructed on eating small meals frequently throughout the day, rather than large meals that your stomach cannot accommodate.
Your new stomach probably won’t be able to handle both solid food and fluids at the same time. So, you should separate fluid and food intake by at least 30 minutes and only sip what you are drinking.
You won’t be able to tolerate large amounts of fat, alcohol, or sugar. You should reduce your fat intake, especially fast food meals, deep-fried foods, and high-fat foods, as well as high-sugar foods like cakes, cookies, and candy.
Exercise and the support of others (for example, joining a support group with people who have undergone weight loss surgery) are extremely important to help you lose weight and maintain that loss following gastric bypass. You can generally resume exercise 6 weeks after the operation. Even sooner than that, you will be able to take short walks at a comfortable pace, with the approval and guidance of your doctor. Exercise improves your metabolism, while both exercise and attending a group support can boost your self-esteem and help you stay motivated.
Definition Gastric bypass surgery is one type of procedure that can be used to cause significant weight loss if you are very obese. The surgery reduces your body's intake of calories. Calorie reduction is accomplished in two ways:
1. After the surgery, your stomach is smaller. You feel full faster and learn to reduce the amount that you eat at any given time.
2. Part of your stomach and small intestines are literally bypassed (skipped over) so that fewer calories are absorbed. Unfortunately, sometimes nutrients are lost as well.
The surgery is only right for you if you meet certain strict criteria described later in this article.
Description:Prior to any weight loss operation, your doctor will give you a complete medical examination and evaluate your overall health.
A psychological evaluation will be given to you. This will determine whether you are ready to adhere to a healthier lifestyle. If you are not ready to make lifestyle changes (and have not tried hard to do so already), you will not be considered eligible for the procedure. Without changing your lifestyle, the surgery will not be a success. You will also receive extensive nutritional counseling before (and after) your surgery.
The surgery is performed under anesthesia. There are two basic steps:
STEP 1 -- The first step in the surgical procedure makes your stomach smaller. The surgeon divides the stomach into a small upper section and a larger bottom section using staples that are similar to stitches. The top section of the stomach (called the pouch) will hold your food.
STEP 2 -- After the stomach has been divided, the surgeon connects a section of the small intestine to the pouch. When you eat, the food will now travel from the pouch through this new connection ("Roux limb"), bypassing the lower portion of the stomach. The surgeon will then reconnect the base of the Roux limb with the remaining portion of the small intestines from the bottom of the stomach, forming a y-shape.
This "y-connection" allows food to mix with pancreatic fluid and bile, aiding the absorption of important vitamins and minerals. You still may experience poor absorption of certain nutrients.
The risk of malabsorption is of greater concern in gastric surgeries that skip over a larger portion of the small intestines. These are performed much less commonly than the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass as described.
LAPAROSCOPY
Gastric bypass can be performed using a laparoscope. This less-invasive technique allows the surgeon to make smaller incisions, which lowers the risk of large scars and hernias after the procedure.
First, small incisions are made in your abdomen. The surgeon passes slender surgical instruments through these narrow openings. The surgeon also passes a camera (laparoscope) through one of these small openings and watches through a lens and video monitor to do the surgery.
TYPES OF WEIGHT LOSS SURGERIES
Weight loss surgery can be divided into three types:
Restrictive procedures reduce the size of your stomach.
Malabsorptive procedures alter the flow from your stomach to your intestine, causing poor absorption of calories, vitamins, and minerals in the intestine.
Combination procedures involve characteristics of both restrictive and malabsorptive procedures.
Gastric bypass surgeries are combination procedures that use both restriction and malabsorption to achieve weight loss.
Because it is a combination approach, it tends to be more successful for weight loss than purely restrictive surgeries. However, your body may not absorb vitamins and minerals properly.
Restrictive-only procedures are not as successful. It is easy to "cheat" and eat too much food, over-stretching the newly created stomach pouch.
A newer procedure, called the Lap-Band, uses a band around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch to hold food. The band limits the amount of food you can eat, and increases the time it takes the intestines to digest the food. Your doctor can later adjust the band to allow food to pass more slowly or quickly through your digestive system. Possible complications include nausea, vomiting and gastroesophageal reflux.
Indications:
Gastric bypass surgery may be an option if you are significantly obese and have tried unsuccessfully to lose weight on diet and exercise programs and are unlikely to lose weight successfully with non-surgical methods.
Gastric bypass surgery is not a "quick fix" for obesity. The surgery can take several hours and has risks and possible complications. For example, vomiting following the surgery is not uncommon because of eating more than the new, small stomach can accommodate.
Your commitment to diet and exercise must be very strong because even after the surgery, you must adhere to these lifestyle changes. Otherwise, complications from the surgery are likely to develop.
The procedure may be considered for obese individuals who have:
A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more. BMI is a calculation based on height and weight that is used to determine whether you are of normal weight or are overweight. Someone with a BMI of 40 or more is at least 100 pounds over their recommended weight. A normal BMI is between 18.5 and 25.
A BMI of 35 or more along with a life-threatening illness that can be made better with weight loss, such as sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
LAPAROSCOPY
Not everyone is a candidate for the laparoscopic (minimally invasive) approach. You are probably NOT a good candidate for laparoscopy if you weigh more than 350 pounds. Others who have had past abdominal surgery may also not be candidates, due to scar tissue. Your surgeon will determine the best and safest approach for you.
Risks:
The risks of gastric bypass surgery include:
Bleeding or Infections
Follow-up surgeries to correct complications, or to remove excess skin
Gallstones due to significant weight loss in a short amount of time
Gastritis (inflammation of the lining of the stomach)
Vomiting from eating more than the stomach pouch can hold
Iron or vitamin B12 deficiencies (if they occur) can lead to anemia.
Calcium deficiency (if it occurs) can contribute to the development of early osteoporosis or other bone disorders
Follow up surgeries may be less likely if gastric bypass is performed with a laparoscope.
Another common complication from gastric bypass is "dumping syndrome." The symptoms often include:
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Bloated feeling
Dizziness
Sweating
You can lessen these symptoms by following your dietitian's guidelines very carefully, especially during the first two months after surgery.
Expectations after surgery:
The weight loss results of gastric bypass surgery are generally good. Most patients lose an average of 10 pounds per month and reach a stable weight between 18 and 24 months after surgery. Often, the greatest rate of weight loss occurs in the very beginning (that is, just following the surgery when you are still on a liquid diet).
After the surgery, you will need to follow up with your doctor fairly often during the first year. During those visits, your physician will be evaluating your physical and mental health status, including any change in weight and your nutritional needs. You will likely see a dietitian during those visits as well.
The surgery is not a solution in and of itself. While it can train you to eat smaller quantities and feel full more quickly, you still have to do much of the work. To achieve weight loss and avoid complications from the procedure, you must exercise and eat properly -- according to important, healthy guidelines that your doctor and nutritionist will teach you.
Recovery :
Most people typically stay in the hospital for a few days or less after gastric bypass surgery. Some may need to stay 4 to 5 days. Your doctor will approve your discharge to home once you can do the following:
Move without too much discomfort
Eat liquid and/or pureed food without vomiting
No longer require pain medication given by injection
You will remain on liquid or pureed food for several weeks after the surgery. Even after that time, you will feel full very quickly, sometimes only being able to take a few bites of solid food. This is because the new stomach pouch initially only holds a tablespoonful of food. The pouch eventually expands. However, it will hold no more than about one cup of thoroughly chewed food (a normal stomach can hold up to one quart).
Upon follow up, your doctor will determine if you need replacement of iron, calcium, vitamin B12, or other nutrients such as Protein. Supplements, such as a multivitamin with minerals, will be prescribed to provide any nutrients that you may not be getting from your diet. This lack of nutrients can occur because you are eating less and because the food moves through your digestive system more quickly.
Once your diet begins to consist of more solid food, remember to chew each bite very slowly and thoroughly.
You will be instructed on eating small meals frequently throughout the day, rather than large meals that your stomach cannot accommodate.
Your new stomach probably won’t be able to handle both solid food and fluids at the same time. So, you should separate fluid and food intake by at least 30 minutes and only sip what you are drinking.
You won’t be able to tolerate large amounts of fat, alcohol, or sugar. You should reduce your fat intake, especially fast food meals, deep-fried foods, and high-fat foods, as well as high-sugar foods like cakes, cookies, and candy.
Exercise and the support of others (for example, joining a support group with people who have undergone weight loss surgery) are extremely important to help you lose weight and maintain that loss following gastric bypass. You can generally resume exercise 6 weeks after the operation. Even sooner than that, you will be able to take short walks at a comfortable pace, with the approval and guidance of your doctor. Exercise improves your metabolism, while both exercise and attending a group support can boost your self-esteem and help you stay motivated.
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