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Tristate Surgical Weight Loss Center

Types of weight-loss surgery

Over the past few years, there has been a gradual shift from more traditional open bariatric surgery to the current method of laparoscopic surgery. Despite a steep learning curve and higher equipment costs, laparoscopic surgery results in far fewer surgery-related wound issues and a decreased length of stay for patients.

Certain patients may also have varying characteristics that make them more suited for one procedure than another. No procedure is guaranteed to succeed in all patients.

Open surgery

  • Requires a large abdominal incision (once thought necessary for adequate operative exposure), which can complicate postoperative recovery and lead to poor cosmetic results.
  • Has a lower cost.
  • Has wound infection and hernia rates as high as 30 percent.

Laparoscopic surgery

  • Offers tremendous potential benefits for better wound healing, more cosmetically appealing results, and earlier returns to usual activity.
  • Results in less pain.
  • Requires significant experience with laparoscopic techniques.
  • Is expensive.
  • Has attracted many laparoscopic surgeons who have limited or no experience with obesity surgery.
  • Requires longer operating times and uses a technique called pneumoperitoneu (the injection of air gas into the peritoneal cavity), which may result in side effects.

Types of laparoscopic surgery

There are two common types of laparoscopic surgery currently used by physicians. Both surgeries create a small pouch in the stomach—either by stapling in the gastric bypass procedure, or by placing an adjustable gastric band. While both surgeries can be effective, speak with your physician to find out which is best for you.

Gastric bypass

Description: A small gastric pouch is created with stapling devices.

Benefits:

  • 75 to 80 percent of patients lose at least 50 percent of their excess weight.
  • Weight loss is sustainable with proper patient selection and follow-up.

Risks: Major complications include leaking, hemorrhaging, and obstruction.

  • Mortality is 0.5 to 1.0 percent
  • Morbidity is 10 percent
    • Anastomotic leaks are 4.4 percent
    • Jejunojejunostomy obstruction is 1.5 percent
    • Bleeding is 3.3 percent
  • Pulmonary embolism is 0.7 percent
  • Weight loss is predominantly due to nutrient restriction but may also be influenced by other factors, such as:
    • Mild malabsorption
    • Dumping syndrome
    • Food intolerances
    • Hormonal changes (ghrelin)

Gastric banding Realize®-Band

Description: A silicone band is positioned around the upper stomach to create a small pouch. The diameter of the outlet can be changed by infusing or withdrawing saline from the port. This is purely restrictive procedure reported to have few operative complications and results similar to vertical banded gastroplasty.

Benefits:

  • Recent papers report 40 to 60 percent excess weight loss and over 200,000 bands implanted worldwide.

Risks:

  • 10 percent complication rate requiring re-operation.

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: thomas.sonnanstine_IV@healthall.com. For information about The St. Luke Hospitals Weight Treatment Services, please call 859-212-4625.

Know someone who wants to lose weight?

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, MD, 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.

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