Saturday, September 3, 2016

Understanding Lap-band And Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

By Timothy Brown


Bariatric weight loss surgery is a procedure that has continue to grow steadily in recent times in New York. There are three main types of bariatric surgeries that are performed. These include gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass surgery. While some differences exist among these procedures, the manner in which they work is similar. Lap-band and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy have the best outcomes hence are the most commonly performed.

When one is trying to lose weight, they need to first consider the conservative methods. Such will include for instance modifying the diet and making it healthier. The intake of carbohydrates and fats should be reduced and that of fruits and vegetables increased. You need to exercise regularly to help burn excess fats and prevent unnecessary weight gain. These options need to be tried out for at least 6 months before being considered ineffective.

The decision to undergo either lap band surgery or sleeve gastrectomy is made by the doctor in consultation with the patient. The choice is made after carefully considering the benefits of each of them. Both can be performed through the open technique or through laparoscopy. One of the major differences between the two is the fact that banding is reversible while gastrectomy is a permanent procedure.

When the open technique is to be used to perform banding, a large incision has to be made in the anterior abdominal region. Such will allow the surgeon to visualize the abdominal structures directly and can place the band around the stomach with ease. In the case of laparoscopy, the incisions that are needed are a lot smaller and the doctor has to rely on images projected on to a monitor to perform the procedure.

Gastrectomy involves reduction of stomach size by removing between 75 and 80% of the organ. The operation leaves behind a small tubular structure whose shape is like a sleeve thus the name of the procedure. Laparoscopic access to the abdominal cavity is the most preferred technique. Once the unwanted portion has been removed, the remaining part is stitched using staples or surgical sutures. With a significant reduction in capacity, the stomach can only hold a limited amount of food.

A number of complications may occur following these operations. Excessive bleeding, injury to internal organs and post-operative infections are among the most commonly encountered. In rare circumstances, the staples or stitches used during the operation may come off. Leakage of foods and acids may then ensue and cause chemical injury to other organs. Nausea and vomiting will be experienced if the squeeze of the band is too much.

A reduction in the stomach capacity results in a reduction in the amount of food intake. Related to this is the fact that there is early satiety and suppression of appetite. Removing part of the stomach significantly reduces the surface area that is available for absorption of nutrients. All these changes cause weight loss that begins to be seen within weeks or months.

Although the surgery can be performed in any patient, there are a number of situations in which risks outweigh the benefits. For instance, if the patient has hormonal imbalance involving metabolic hormones they are likely to have poor outcomes. Examples include uncontrolled diabetes and hyperthyroidism. These conditions have to be managed first before the operation is carried out. Gastrointestinal diseases such as peptic ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease may also affect the results.




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