Important Aspects On Gastric Banding And Sleeve Gastrectomy

By Ryan Meyer


Bariatric surgeries are increasingly becoming an acceptable method of weight control in New York. In general these methods achieve their effect by reducing the stomach capacity which in turn reduces the amount of food that an individual can eat at a given time. Related to the same is early satiety and reduced absorption of nutrients. There are three main types of bariatric operations that are performed. These include gastric bypass, gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy.

Banding and gastrectomy are more similar than they are different. Banding is performed by placing a silicone band on a part of the stomach (usually the upper portion) so that a compression effect reduces the size of the organ. The individual can consume about one ounce of food most of which goes to the provision of energy with very little being stored. Faster filling results in early satiety which further reduces the amount of food eaten.

There are two main forms of surgical approaches that can be used in the placement of silicone bands. The first, the open technique, is performed through a large incision in the anterior abdominal wall. Under direct visualization, the surgeon locates the stomach and places the band in the desired region manually. The second method which is the commoner and more preferred of the two is the laparoscopic approach. Here access to the abdominal cavity is through very small incisions.

The compression force that is used will vary from one individual to another. The most important determinant is the weight of the individual. Obese individuals will get a higher compression force than those that are classified as overweight. A tube connected to the silicone band can be accessed from an area under the skin. Fluid can be injected or withdrawn from this tubing so as to either increase or reduce the magnitude of compression.

You should anticipate a number of complications when you undergo this procedure. Those that are seen commonly include excessive blood loss, injury to internal structures, nausea and vomiting among others. Vomiting and nausea are likely to ensue if the degree of compression is too much. Reducing the compression resolves these symptoms in most cases. The risk of infections is reduced through the administration of antibiotics.

Gastrectomy can be conducted either laparoscopically or the open procedure. The laparoscopic option is by far, the more preferred due to the fewer complications. In performing gastrectomy, close to 80% of the stomach is removed and discarded. This makes the procedure irreversible unlike banding. The resultant organ looks like a sleeve and hence its name.

When the stomach is converted into the tubular structure, the period of time that food takes in the organ is considerably reduced. This is a desired effect of the operation. Side effects that arise from the performance of sleeve gastrectomy are almost the same as those that are realized with the banding technique. Those that may be specific to gastrectomy include leakage of food through incisions on the stomach and displacement of staples or stitches.

Ideal candidates to undergo bariatric surgeries are persons that have tried losing weight through lifestyle modification and have been unsuccessful. Regular exercise and proper diet are among the most effective modalities of weight loss and their benefits must be optimized first before other solutions are considered. A patient with a very high body mass index stands to benefit more than one with a lower value.




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