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Types of Surgeries

Types of Bariatric Surgery offered at Preston Memorial Hospital

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band:

An adjustable silicone band is placed around the upper portion of the stomach, this is connected to a port that is placed in the abdominal wall to be eventually accessed for adjustments.

Advantages:

  • Less invasive.
  • After 3 years weight loss is about the same as Gastric bypass in some studies.

Disadvantages:

  • General: Bleeding, infection (wound, pneumonia, UTI), blood clots.
  • Specific:
  • Procedure is only restrictive.
  • Resolution of medical problems is gradual.
  • Possibility of:
    • Band erosion
    • Band slippage
    • Port complications
    • Failure of weight loss

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass:

The stomach is divided into a small pouch and a bypassed remnant. The small intestine is reconfigured in a Y shaped fashion. The food bypasses the majority of the stomach and the proximal small intestine.

Advantages:

  • Maximum weight loss.
  • Immediate resolution of medical complications.
  • Low rate of surgical complications.
  • No foreign materials.
  • Decreased Ghrelin – Ghrelin stimulates appetite and hunger

Disadvantages:

  • General: bleeding, infection (wound, pneumonia, UTI), blood clots.
  • Specific:
  • Possibility of:
    • Ulcers
    • Leak
    • Stricture
    • Dumping syndrome
    • Failure of weight loss.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy:

 The majority of the stomach is removed leaving a tubular shaped stomach.

Advantages:

  • Low rate of surgical complications
  • No foreign materials
  • Maintenance of normal gastrointestinal continuity
  • Decreased Ghrelin  - Ghrelin stimulates appetite and hunger

Disadvantages:

  • General: Bleeding, infection (wound, pneumonia, UTI), blood clots.
  • Specific:
  • Possibility of:
    • Stricture
    • Leak
    • Pouch dilation
    • Failure of weight loss 

In general, after any weight loss procedure, patients who continue to monitor their postoperative diet, maintain good eating habits and get regular exercise are more likely to maintain their weight loss.

Surgery, healthy eating habits and exercise will help decrease the BMI with resolution or significant improvement of the medical problems associated with the weight.

Complications can be minimized by following standardized protocols and implementing a team approach by staff that is well trained in this field.

As with any surgical intervention, complications can occur.  We focus on early detection of complications to manage at an early stage. Please feel free to contact the surgeon or the staff after surgery if you are experiencing any unusual symptom.

SPECIAL NOTE TO WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE:  Pregnancy should be avoided if possible in the first 2 years after surgery. 

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