Sep 13, 2016

Facts Related To Gastric Banding And Sleeve Gastrectomy

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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.

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.

Just like banding, gastrectomy can be performed either through the open technique or laparoscopically. The procedure itself involves the reduction of stomach volume by surgically removing a portion of it. An incision is made along the greater length of the stomach and as much as 80% is removed leaving behind a very small part that can hold just an ounce of food. The resultant shape looks like a sleeve hence the name.

The conversion of the stomach into a tubular structure results in less time for absorption which is a desired effect of all bariatric surgeries. The side effects associated with the sleeve procedure are similar to those that are result from banding. Additional side effects include leakages of food through the incision site and the loss of staples or stitches used to repair the stomach.

The ideal candidate of bariatric surgery is an individual who has tried out other methods of weight loss but has been unsuccessful. Such include regular exercise and eating a diet that has less carbohydrates and fat. The body mass index should ideally be more than 40. Persons with weight-related complications may have the surgery regardless of their body mass index.




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