The demand for obesity surgery has skyrocketed. More than 63,000 such operations were performed in 2002 compared to only 16,000 observations that found weight loss in patients who had part of their stomach removed for cancer treatment or ulcer resolver. Today’s surgery is less invasive, safer, more refined, more effective and has better outcomes and fewer risks.
A normal stomach that can stretch to the size of a football can be reduced to the size of an egg that can hold only a few tablespoons of food. Staples or a plastic band is used close off the stomach and the smaller pouch is able to accommodate only tiny, well-chewed bites, eaten slowly.
Over time, a staple stomch still has the potential to stretch and if old eating habits resume, lost weight can be found. A Roux-en-Y (ROO-en-Y) technique combines stomach reduction and closing off a part of the small intestine, forcing food to by-pass part of that organ. The diameter of the intestine, forcing food to by-pass part of that organ. The diameter of the intestines is made more narrow, allowing food to pass slower, making one feel fuller longer.
Surgery can also be performed laparoscopically, which requires 6 small cuts, less that 1/2 inch long, to insert a tiny camera, which allows the physician to observe the procedure on a T.V. monitor as surgical instruments are moved about. The smaller insicions mean less pain, less infection and only a 3 day hospital stay, but is not without risk. Blood clots, heart attacks, respiratory failure and even death can result from intestinal fluid leaking into the abdominal cavity post operatively.
The cost of surgery is between $17,000 to $25,000 and insurance covers much of the cost. A morbidly obese individual must be able to document what previous weight loss methods were tried and for what length of time. An individual classified as “morbidly obese” means at least 100 pounds overweight or having a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more. This qualifies them for surgery. In addition, the candidates must be prepared and capable of committing to a life long, different eating pattern and screened by a physician, a nutritionist and a psychologist. They must stop smoking, attend healthy eating classes and even lose some weight and be free of life stressors prior to surgery. Procedures will differ among physicians and hospitals.
To learn more about this condition, plan on attending the next scheduled seminar on Tuesday, Sept., 23, 2003 from 8am-4pm at the Holiday Inn on McKnight Road in the North Hills entitled “Management of Obesity: Surgical and Non-Surgical Approaches”. A panel of guests who have had this surgery will share with you their experiences.
