Bariatric Surgery
What is obesity? The term ‘obesity’ specifically refers to an excess mount of body fat. Over the years, the prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States has more than doubled. Currently, nearly one third of adults are obese, and one fourth of children are obese. Obesity is linked to many health problems and diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac dysfunction and heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and respiratory and pulmonary dysfunction.
According to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery and the National Institutes of Health, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass is the current “gold standard” procedure for bariatric surgery. It is the most frequently performed bariatric procedure in the United States. In a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the stomach is made smaller by creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach using surgical staples or a plastic band. The smaller stomach is connected directly to the middle portion of the small intestine, bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine. This procedure can be done by making a large incision in the abdomen (an open procedure) or by making a small incision and using small instruments and a camera to guide the surgery (laparoscopic approach).
Another procedure for bariatric surgery is the LAP-Band. The LAP-Band is the newest surgical treatment for morbid obesity in the United States. It induces weight loss by reducing the capacity of the stomach, thereby restricting the amount of food that can be consumed at one time.
The band is fastened around the upper stomach to create a new, tiny stomach pouch. As a result, patients experience an earlier sensation of fullness and are satisfied with smaller amounts of food. Since there is no cutting, stapling, or stomach rerouting involved in the LAP-Band procedure, it is considered the least traumatic of all weight loss surgeries. The LAP-Band procedure can be done laparoscopically or openly with a large incision.
The Surgical Obesity Program at Plantation General Hospital provides comprehensive services, including both laparoscopic techniques and open obesity surgery, and has helped many men and women enjoy their lives to the fullest once again! Plantation General Hospital takes great pride in our renowned bariatric surgeons, who were selected for their extensive education, experience with both laparoscopic and open procedures, and compassionate care.
Please call our toll-free Health line at 1-866-8-Get-2-IT for additional information on PGH’s MIS Program and the surgeons that are part of the “MIS Team”.