Get Only an Experienced
Surgeon to do Gastric Bypass
April 19, 2005
Weight loss surgery is becoming a popular option for
shedding extra weight. But a word of caution, get only
get only an experienced surgeon to do gastric bypass.
Check out whether this procedure has been performed
by the concerned hospital at least 100 times or not
to help ensure their safety.
Nowadays, gastric bypass surgery is becoming popular.
It is a surgery in which part of the stomach is bypassed
to help obese people lose
weight. Surgeons are also increasingly turning to
a less invasive technique called laparascopic gastric
bypass surgery. Now Instead of a large cut down the
center of the abdomen, this technique uses several small
cuts to perform the surgery, using a camera to see inside
the abdomen. Recovery time after this technique is generally
much shorter than after traditional surgery, and patients
experience less pain.
A word of caution While this new technique
has been of "tremendous overall benefit as it dramatically
decreases infection rates, pain after surgery, and length
of hospital stay. But it's much more technically challenging
than the traditional surgery technique. Hence safety
of this procedure is a critical issue. weight loss surgery
is generally reserved for patients with a BMI over 35
who have obesity-related health conditions and who have
been unsuccessful with diet and exercise programs.
A study was conducted involving 750 consecutive laparoscopic
surgeries done between March 1998 and April 2004. Researchers
found that major complications from the surgery fell
significantly once at least 100 surgeries had been performed
at a hospital. Blood loss, operating time, and length
of hospital stay all improved.
Researchers say that looking for a hospital that has
done at least 100 laparoscopic gastric bypass surgeries
should help decrease complications seen with this challenging
procedure.
Source: http://www.foxnews.com
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