Bariatric surgery can change one's life – especially when used to combat long standing obesity issues. However, it isn't a magical cure as the patient has to change their lifestyle to help maintain their weight loss. The first six to twelve months after their procedure is the most crucial as patients begin to learn to adapt to their new caloric intake and maintain or even improve their weight loss. Patients will also need to adopt an exercise routine to further help benefit the surgery.
Type of Bariatric Surgery
1
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Gastric sleeve surgery, sometimes also called partial
gastrectomy, reduces the stomach to about 25% of its original size. A smaller
stomach means reduced appetite and quicker satiety (sense of fullness), ensuring
steady weight loss. Surgery is only performed on the stomach; the intestine is
not touched.
The
procedure involves removing two-thirds of the stomach along its length so
instead of looking like a pouch, it looks like a long tube or shirt-sleeve. The
smaller stomach tube remains attached to the intestines, thus ensuring a normal
digestion process and proper nutrient absorption.
Gastric sleeve surgery can be performed as a stand-alone procedure or as the first stage in a gastric bypass procedure and generally has fewer potential complications than gastric bypass surgery.
2
Duodenal Switch
Duodenal switch surgery combines food intake restriction with
reduced calorie absorption, resulting in higher weight loss. It also has a 98%
“cure” rate for type 2 diabetes.
The
procedure is quite complex and involves reducing the size of the stomach,
removing the gallbladder and rerouting the intestines – 4 steps in all:
1. Around 70% of the left side of the stomach is removed
creating a cylindrical-shaped pouch that connects the esophagus to the small
intestine.
2. The top of the small intestine is then cut, leaving part
of the duodenum (where most of the body’s chemical digestion takes place)
attached to the stomach and removing the gallbladder.
3. Next, the lower part of the small intestine is cut
approximately 1 meter from where it connects to the large intestine. The
duodenum is then attached to the part that is still connected to the large
intestine.
4. Finally, the end of the loose part of the small intestine is attached to the part of the small intestine that connects the duodenum to the large intestine. This lets the gastric juices mix with the food from the stomach in the last section of the small intestine.
This procedure may be performed as open surgery or laparoscopically.
After surgery, patients will, need to take vitamin supplements for the rest of
their lives.
3
Gastric Bypass Omega Loop (Mini-Gastric Bypass)
The gastric bypass omega loop, or mini-gastric bypass, is a simpler alternative to the Roux en-Y procedure with a lower risk of complications and greater chance of sustained weight loss.
The procedure consists of two steps: reduction of the stomach and looping of the small intestine to connect to the smaller stomach.
First,
the left part of the stomach is detached along the entire length of the
stomach, leaving a long narrow tube. Then a loop of the small intestine is
brought up and attached to the stomach tube. This process bypasses the upper
part of the intestine while still enabling drainage of gastric juices from the
detached part of the stomach.
4
Gastric Bypass
Gastric bypass surgery promotes weight loss by dramatically decreasing the size of the stomach and allowing only small amounts of food to be eaten at one time. This procedure comprises two steps: partitioning of the stomach and reconstruction of the gastrointestinal tract.
First a small, thumb-sized pouch is created from the upper stomach using surgical staples. This process leaves the larger part of the stomach non-functional.
Second, the small intestine is divided into two parts. One end is then attached to the stomach pouch. The other end, which is still connected to the part of the stomach that is no longer functional, is reattached to the intestinal tract to enable drainage of the gastric juices.
With this procedure, food bypasses most of the stomach and part of the small intestine, thus reducing food intake and disrupting calorie absorption.
5
Gastric Banding
Gastric banding surgery uses an inflatable band to reduce the
size of the stomach. The aim is to slow and limit the amount of food that can
be consumed at one time and thus promote gradual weight loss.
The
procedure entails placing an inflatable band around the upper part of the
stomach to make the stomach pouch smaller. This procedure does not affect
gastric emptying time, but it does limit food intake, reduce appetite and slow
digestion.
The
band works by reducing the size of the top of the stomach, so it can only hold
just over 100 milliliter of food at a time. It fills up quickly, slowing the
passage of food through the digestive tract. Fullness is registered by the
upper part of the stomach. Consequently, reducing that part of the stomach,
means the person will feel hungry less often and full more quickly and for
longer.
As
the patient loses weight, the band will need adjustment to continue to be
effective. This is done by adding a saline solution through a small access port
placed just under the skin.
This is the least invasive weight loss surgery and is completely reversible. However, it may not be appropriate for patients who are extremely obese, have complicating medical issues or have previously had abdominal surgery.
Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
- Reduction in food intake
- Increase energy level
- Improve the physical and lifestyle conditions
- Heightened self-esteem and self-worth
- Reduced risk of developing life-threatening diseases
The Multidisciplinary Bariatric Team
- Bariatric nurse coordinator
- Internal medicine specialist
- Endocrinologist
- Laparoscopic surgeons
- Dietician
- Physiotherapists
- Psychologist
- Anaesthetists
- Gastroenterologists
- Diabetic educator
- Cardiopulmonary therapists
- Pharmacists