Sunday, September 4, 2016

Basics Concerning Gastric Banding And Sleeve Gastrectomy

By Ryan Meyer


Bariatric surgery refers to an operation that is done with the objective of losing weight. Many different forms of this operation exist in New York but the principle under which they work is the same. These operations are done to reduce the volume of the stomach which effectively reduces the amount of food that can be consumed at a given point in time. Less nutrients are absorbed and over time, weight loss sets int. There are a few things regarding gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy you should know.

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.

Gastric banding is the simpler of the two procedures. It involves the fixation of a special band (made of silicone) onto the external surface of the stomach resulting in compression. The external force reduces the size of the stomach and by extension, the food that one can eat at a given point in time. The reduced size of stomach also causes early satiety which reduces food intake even further.

The magnitude of compression varies from one patient to another depending on their condition. A higher degree of compression is likely to be used if the patient is obese with associated medical complications. A plastic tubing is usually connected to the tubing and one end can be accessed from an area under the skin. The tube allows for adjustments to compression force to be made. Injection of water in the tubing increases the compression and withdrawing reduces it.

There are several complications that may occur when one undergoes this kind of operation. They include, among others, excessive loss of blood, infections, vomiting and nausea. Excessive compression is thought to be the main contributing factor for nausea and vomiting. Reducing the compression force reduces the severity of these two. To reduce the risk of infections, prophylactic antibiotics have to be administered.

Gastrectomy can also be performed through an open and laparoscopic techniques. The laparoscopic option is the more preferred option due to the lower rate of complications. During gastrectomy, the stomach is cut along its length and a large portion of it (between 75% and 80%). The remnant is a small tubular structure that also resembles a sleeve and hence the name.

The tubular structure of the stomach after the operation reduces the transit time of food considerably. This means that less nutrients are absorbed and this is what all bariatric operations aim to achieve. Side effects that may arise from gastrectomy are similar to those that are seen with the banding procedure. Those that may relate to gastrectomy only include food leakage and the loss of stitches or staples.

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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