SURGEON
Bariatric Surgery: A Lifesaving Procedure for Severe Obesity
The Impact of Morbid Obesity on the Body
Severe obesity is associated with a multitude of health problems affecting nearly all systems and functions of the body, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, asthma, infertility, and others. It significantly shortens life expectancy, correlating with the body mass index (BMI). Bariatric surgery offers a path to a healthier life while simultaneously eliminating these comorbidities.
Understanding Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
Metabolic and bariatric surgery is a surgical alteration of the stomach, intestines, or both to induce weight loss in patients with obesity-induced metabolic diseases and their consequences. These operations are effective in treating obesity and related conditions.
Progress in Surgical Technologies
Modern bariatric procedures are the culmination of decades of refinement, making them some of the safest and most well-studied treatment methods currently available. Performed using minimally invasive methods, they offer patients less pain, fewer complications, and accelerated recovery.
Goals and Benefits of Surgery
The primary goal of bariatric surgery is to alter the stomach and intestines to limit food intake and reduce nutrient absorption, leading to decreased hunger and increased satiety. This helps patients achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Common Bariatric Procedures
Bariatric surgeries are significant medical interventions that come with both benefits and risks. They require a lifelong commitment to a strict diet and healthy lifestyle, with subsequent monitoring necessary for successful outcomes.
Informed Decision-Making
It is crucial for patients to thoroughly discuss all aspects of their health with their doctors to choose the most suitable bariatric surgery option.
Understanding Potential Complications
Bariatric surgery comes with its own set of complications, both immediate and delayed:
Candidates for bariatric surgery are typically determined based on:
Hypertension
Dyslipidemia
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Cardiovascular diseases
Asthma
Steatotic liver disease related to metabolic dysfunction and steatohepatitis
Chronic kidney disease
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Infertility
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Pseudotumor cerebri
Bone and joint diseases
Necessary medical tests, such as abdominal ultrasound, gastroscopy, contrast study of the esophagus and stomach, blood tests, ECG, and chest X-ray. Additional examinations and specialist consultations may be required depending on comorbidities.
Severe obesity is associated with a multitude of health problems affecting nearly all systems and functions of the body, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, asthma, infertility, and others. It significantly shortens life expectancy, correlating with the body mass index (BMI). Bariatric surgery offers a path to a healthier life while simultaneously eliminating these comorbidities.
Understanding Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
Metabolic and bariatric surgery is a surgical alteration of the stomach, intestines, or both to induce weight loss in patients with obesity-induced metabolic diseases and their consequences. These operations are effective in treating obesity and related conditions.
Progress in Surgical Technologies
Modern bariatric procedures are the culmination of decades of refinement, making them some of the safest and most well-studied treatment methods currently available. Performed using minimally invasive methods, they offer patients less pain, fewer complications, and accelerated recovery.
Goals and Benefits of Surgery
The primary goal of bariatric surgery is to alter the stomach and intestines to limit food intake and reduce nutrient absorption, leading to decreased hunger and increased satiety. This helps patients achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Common Bariatric Procedures
- Sleeve gastrectomy: Removes a large portion of the stomach, limiting food intake and affecting hunger hormones.
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: Creates a small stomach pouch connected to the small intestine. Food enters the pouch and is rerouted to the small intestine, bypassing the duodenum and not interacting with its enzymes, thus reducing calorie absorption. This procedure is both restrictive and malabsorptive.
- One anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB): A simpler alternative to traditional gastric bypass, involving a long gastric reservoir connected to the small intestine.
Bariatric surgeries are significant medical interventions that come with both benefits and risks. They require a lifelong commitment to a strict diet and healthy lifestyle, with subsequent monitoring necessary for successful outcomes.
Informed Decision-Making
It is crucial for patients to thoroughly discuss all aspects of their health with their doctors to choose the most suitable bariatric surgery option.
Understanding Potential Complications
Bariatric surgery comes with its own set of complications, both immediate and delayed:
- Immediate complications: Bleeding, infection, reactions to anesthesia, thromboembolic complications, respiratory problems, anastomotic leakage.
- Delayed complications: Nutrient absorption disorders and deficiencies, gastrointestinal complications, hypoglycemia, internal hernias, excess skin requiring additional correction.
Candidates for bariatric surgery are typically determined based on:
- Body Mass Index (BMI): BMI of 40+ or 35+ with comorbidities.
- Comorbidities include:
Hypertension
Dyslipidemia
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Cardiovascular diseases
Asthma
Steatotic liver disease related to metabolic dysfunction and steatohepatitis
Chronic kidney disease
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Infertility
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Pseudotumor cerebri
Bone and joint diseases
- Medical history: previous unsuccessful attempts at weight loss.
- Understanding the consequences of surgery and the need for lifestyle changes post-operation.
- Examination: A full evaluation by a multidisciplinary team, including a dietitian and psychologist.
Necessary medical tests, such as abdominal ultrasound, gastroscopy, contrast study of the esophagus and stomach, blood tests, ECG, and chest X-ray. Additional examinations and specialist consultations may be required depending on comorbidities.