Basics Relating To Gastric Banding And Sleeve Gastrectomy

By Martha Foster


Lifestyle changes are one of the most effective approaches in achieving weight loss. While their effect can be clearly appreciated in a majority of New York residents over time, there is a smaller group of people in whom these lifestyle changes alone cannot achieve the desired results. These people form the bulk of potential candidates for surgical weight loss procedures which include gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy. The two operations are examples of bariatric surgery.

The two types of procedures are restrictive surgeries. This means that they reduce the size of the stomach which effectively reduces the amount of food that it can hold. Persons who have had the procedures begin to have early satiety which reduces their food intake. Over time, they begin to lose weight since most of the food that is eaten is used to provide energy and very little, if any, is stored as fat.

Gastric banding involves the placement of a silicon band on the fundus (upper part) of the stomach. The band exerts a squeeze in this region effectively converting the organ into a small pouch with an outlet capable of holding just an ounce of food. This procedure is done using laparoscopy which has a number of advantages over conventional (open) surgical operations. They include, smaller incisions, less bleeding and less prominent scars.

To retain control on the band, the surgeon connects it to an area just below the skin using a plastic tube. Sterile water or saline can be injected into this tube or drawn from it to increase or reduce the squeeze. The final effect is increased or reduced capacity. Increasing the capacity may be necessary if there are unwanted side effects. Reducing it, on the other hand, is necessary if the benefits are not being realized.

Gastric banding has been shown to cause up to 50% in weight loss in a couple of months. The procedure is largely safe but a few side effects may be experienced. Such may include nausea and vomiting, wound infections or minor bleeding. Adjusting the tube often resolves the nausea and vomiting but removal of the tube may be needed if these effects are severe.

Sleeve gastrectomy involves the removal of a large part of the stomach to leave between 20 and 25% of the original. The resultant shape is tubular or sleeve-shaped (hence the name). Weight loss is mainly due to two effects. The first is the reduced volume which also reduces food intake and contributes to early satiety. The second is the increased transit time that reduces food absorption.

Sleeve gastrectomy may be used in adolescents and children. Studies have ruled out any major effects on growth in children less than 14 years. The side effects that one should anticipate include nausea, aversion to food, leakage of food, infections and esophageal spasms among others. After some years, the stomach may dilate slightly but this is hardly a cause for worry.

The two procedures are considered day cases in most centers. What this means is that you can go home on the same day of the operation. One can resume their normal daily routine within a day or two. Usually, one has to be on a light diet comprising of liquids and mashed up foods of about two weeks. This is followed by soft foods for another two weeks then the regular diet.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire

The Key to Weight Loss Is Diet Quality, Not Quantity, a New Study Finds

Image Credit Credit Andrew Sondern/The New York Times By Anahad O’Connor Feb. 20, 2018 Leer en español ...