Benefits & Risks of Surgery
When is surgery recommended?
- If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is greater than or equal to 40.
- If you are at a serious risk for comorbidity, BMI greater than or equal to 35. A comorbidity is the presence of one or more disorders (or diseases) in addition to a primary disease or disorder.
General Benefits
In a comparison study between a group of obese diabetic patients who received a gastric bypass and a group that did not receive weight loss surgery, the incidence of death was 4.5 times higher in the control group than the surgical group. The incidence of mortality related to cardiovascular disease was 54.5 percent in patients not receiving surgery compared to 14.3 percent of those with a gastric bypass.
- Improves or resolves many obesity related comorbidities, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and other conditions.
- Most medications can be discontinued, decreased, or substituted for less potent alternatives after surgery
- Improved blood sugar control
- 91 percent of Diabetic or Glucose Intolerant patients undergoing weight loss surgery returned to normal blood sugar levels.
- Improved fertility
- Decreased back and joint pain
- Improved blood pressure
- Improved mobility
- Decreased serum triglyceride levels, a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
- Decreased hepatic steatosis also known as “fatty liver “
- Improved left ventricular function
- Normalized endocrine function – normalized hormonal secretion, etc.
- Easier Breathing
- Reduced gastroesophageal reflux – including “heart burn” or acid reflux
- Improved quality of life
- Improved survival
- Cardiovascular Disease Benefits – Over 70 percent of Cardiovascular Disease cases are related to obesity.
- Improvements in blood pressure, flow, and cholesterol levels leading to less stress on the heart.
General Risks of Surgery
- Gastrointestinal leak
- Hemorrhage
- Pneumonia
- Deep vein thrombosis – a condition in which blood clots may appear in deep veins
- Vomiting
- Renal failure
- Wound infection/dehiscence
- Thrombocytopenia – An abnormal decrease in the number of platelets in the blood.
- Cardiac events
- Respiratory failure
- Pulmonary embolism
- Intestinal obstruction
- Pressure ulceration
- In extreme circumstances, death
Contact Us
- For more information about the Tristate Surgical Weight Loss Center at The St. Luke Hospitals, please call 859-212-GOAL.
- Dr. Sonnanstine can be reached by email: SonnanTE@Healthall.com
- For information about The St. Luke Hospitals Weight Treatment Services, please call 859-212-5673.
Know someone who wants to lose weight?
Are you ready to start the new year off with a new look? For some people who are overweight, dieting and exercising just don’t work. Is weight loss surgery the solution? Come find out more at the FREE information sessions with leading bariatric surgeon Tom Sonnanstine, M.D. of the Tristate Surgical Weight Loss Center at The St. Luke Hospitals.
Registration is required. Please call 859-212-4625.
Space is limited, so make your reservation now! Information sessions are held the first Thursday of each month.
To make an appointment for a consultation, call 859-212-GOAL. |
