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Thursday, 4 July 2013

Facts On Weight Reduction Surgery

By Kathy Kaufman


Weight reduction surgery or bariatric surgery describes a series of surgical procedures that are performed on obese persons. In the process the stomach is reduced in size by removing a portion. This is achieved by use of what is referred to as sleeve gastrectomy or a simple gastric band. Another option involves the resection and diversion of the small gut to the stomach. Such a procedure is very beneficial to persons that have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. It reduces the risk of complications in these persons.

The bariatric procedure is recommended for persons that have a minimum BMI of 40. It is also helpful in persons that have medical conditions that are exacerbated by excess weight. It is important to emphasize that this option should only be considered when all the conservative options have failed.

Pros and cons of such a procedure should be taken into account before the procedure is done. Certain post-operative complications such as gall bladder disease and malabsorption may arise. Psychiatric screening should also be done as there is possibility of patients falling in to depression after the operation.

There are three surgical options that one may choose from. The common thing about them is that they are aimed at minimizing the recurrence of obesity and to encourage loss of weight. These are broadly classified into malabsorptive, restrictive and mixed type. In the malabsorptive procedure, the aim is to encourage malabsorption of some components in food. Such a procedure includes, for example, what is known as billiopancreatic diversion that is usually accompanied with a duodenal stitch (BDS/DS). The main downside is that some essential nutrients may not be absorbed and this often results in metabolic diseases.

Restrictive procedures are done to reduce the amount of food eaten by reducing the size of the stomach. The person that has had this surgery will usually experience earlier satiety than was the case in the previously. A common technique used to achieve this is the vertical banded gastroplasty. In this technique, permanent staples are put on the stomach and this effectively reduces the volume.

In sleeve gastrectomy, the stomach is reduced to 85% its original size. A huge portion of the stomach following the greater curvature is removed. This makes the stomach look more like a tube or shaped like a banana. It is a permanent procedure done under laparoscopy. Although the volume of the stomach is reduced, it still works normally and the patient can be able to take in small amounts of food at a time.

The diet of the patient after surgery becomes restricted to liquid foods such as broth, fruit juice and gelatin desserts that are sugar free. This kind of diet is maintained until the alimentary canal recovers from the surgery. The next diet is composed of blended substances which are sugar free, consisting of foods such as cream soup, skimmed milk, protein drinks among others.

As happens with any surgical operation, there are a number of risks that should be anticipated both in the short term and long term. In these patients calcium absorption is often compromised leading to metabolic bone diseases. Osteopenia and secondary hyperparathyroidism are some clinical features that may be encountered. Rapid loss of weight is a predisposing factor for gall stone formation and one will therefore need to have this at the back of their mind. Other complications of weight reduction surgery include decreased absorption of nutrients such as vitamin B12, thiamine, iron and folate.




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