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Basic Facts Regarding Weight Reduction Surgery

By Kathy Kaufman


Weight reduction surgery is stepwise procedure that is done to correct obesity in persons that are struggling with excess weight. It is also termed bariatric surgery. During the procedure, it is often necessary to reduce the size of the stomach as well through a number of techniques. This may be done either by use of sleeve gastrectomy or by use of a special gastric band. The former cuts off some portion whereas the latter only shrinks the volume. The bariatric procedure greatly benefits people struggling with conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.

Bariatric surgery is most helpful in persons that have a body mass index, BMI, of more than 40. It is also recommended for those that have medical conditions that are likely to be worsened by obesity. These include among others, glucose intolerance, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes. Surgical options are reserved for cases that are unresponsive to medical therapy.

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.

Surgical procedures are grouped in to three main categories. These are malabsorptive, restrictive or mixed. The most commonly performed is the malabsorptive procedure. Malabsorptive operations aim at creating a physiological state of malabsorption. Biliopancreatic diversion combined with duodenal switch (BDS/DS) is one such undertaking. A section of the stomach is resected, creating a smaller pouch which is then directly connected to the ileum, bypassing the duodenum and jejunum. The malabsorption that results can be severe enough to cause serious deficiency diseases such as osteoporosis and anemia unless vitamins and mineral supplements are administered.

Predominantly restrictive procedures aim at minimizing oral intake by restricting gastric volume. This produces early food satisfaction. Vertical banded gastroplasty involves permanent stapling of the stomach to create a small stomach to handle the food. It is regarded as one of the safest operations carried out today.

Another restrictive technique is known as sleeve gastrectomy. In the hands of a skilled surgeon, up to 15% of the original size of the stomach can be successfully removed. The greatest portion is taken from the greater curvature. The stomach shape is transformed into more of a tube. In advanced centers, laparoscopes are used so as to improve on the accuracy.

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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