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Bariatric Surgery
| Overview
Bariatric
Surgery refers to operations designed to treat obesity. |
| Obesity,
or the extent to which a person is overweight is often measured
using the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is calculated y dividing
one’s weight in kilograms (2.2 lbs.) by one’s height in meters
(39.3”) squared. A person is considered clinically obese if
he/she has a BMI of 30 or more, and morbidly obese with a BMI over
40. Usually this translates into doubling of the ideal weight, or
100 lbs. of excess weight. If recent trends continue, in the 21st
century obesity may become the number one U.S. public health
problem. Approximately 10 million people in the U.S. are suffering
from this disease which is now spreading to children and
adolescents. |
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| For
more information or to register for a patient education seminar
call: (973) 429-6488. |
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Obesity
exacerbates such co-morbidities as hypertension, heart disease,
osteoarthritis, gall bladder diseases, sleep apnea and stroke.
Additionally morbidly obese people suffer social rejection and
prejudice, low self-esteem, sexual dysfunction and depression.
It
is a complex problem which requires a multi-specialty approach in
evaluation.
Suitable
candidates for surgery typically are evaluated by an internist,
cardiologist, nutritionist, pulmonologist and psychiatrist prior
to surgery. |
Roux-en-Y Gastric
Bypass |
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The
Surgery
Generally
weight loss surgery is considered if a patient has a BMI of 40 or
greater, or a BMI of 35 with significant co-morbidities. The most
common operation is a gastric bypass which seals off part of the
stomach in order to decrease the quantity of food ingested and
rearranges the small intestine to reduce the calories the body can
absorb. This operation can be performed laparoscopically, reducing
the time of recovery as well as post-operative pain.
Benefits
The
average weight loss after gastric surgery is about 100 lbs. over
one year or more. However many beneficial effects, such as a
decrease in hypertension and Type II Diabetes are noted after
several months.
Risks
As
any major surgical operations, bariatric surgery carries a risk.
Perioperative mortality is less than 2%. Most common short term
complications include pulmonary emboli, staple line leakage,
bleeding and internal hernias. Long term complications include
gallstones, incisional hernias, iron deficiencies and
osteoporosis. In every situation, the risk of undergoing bariatric
surgery must be balanced against the risk of the patient’s
continued obesity.
For
more information or to register for a patient education seminar
call:
(973) 429-6488.
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ABOUT PROCEDURES
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