What You Need To Know About Lap-band And Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

By Timothy Brown


Bariatric operations are the procedures that are performed with the sole purpose of helping an individual lose weight. The need for these procedures has been increasing steadily in New York City in recent times. Gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass are the three main types of bariatric operations. Of the three, lap-band and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy are the most effective and safest. Gastric bypass is often done as a last resort for some diseases affecting the stomach.

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.

To choose between banding and gastrectomy, one has to fully understand the benefits and risks associated with each of them. One of the major similarities is that both of them can be effectively performed using the open technique or laparoscopy. The major difference is that in gastrectomy the stomach has to be cut surgically while no cutting is involved in banding. For this reason banding is reversible while gastrectomy is not.

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 is the removal of part of the stomach. Up to 80% can be removed in a single operation reducing the organ to just a small pouch. The new shape is similar to a sleeve (hence the name). Most surgeons prefer the laparoscopic technique over the open method due to the lower risk of complications associated with the former technique. The remaining part is usually stitched using surgical sutures or staples.

There are a number of complications that potential candidates need to be aware of. These include, among others, excessive loss of blood, accidental injury to internal organs and postoperative infections. The loss of stitches or staples used in closure may be seen in very rare circumstances. When it occurs, it leads to leakage of digested foods and acids which may in turn lead to chemical injury of various organs.

Reduced stomach capacity translates into reduced intake of food. This is not only due to the smaller quantity of food that can be held at one time but also due to the associated early satiety. A reduction in the surface area of the stomach also reduces the amount of food absorbed. Weight loss begins to become evident within weeks or months depending on the magnitude of the problem.

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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