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Laparoscopic gastric bypass an option for the obese - Brief Article

Approximately eight million people in the United States are overweight, more than half of them women, according to a Dec 10, 2001, news release from Methodist Hospital, Arcadia, Calif. Laparoscopic gastric bypass, which shrinks the stomach and reduces caloric intake, may help some of these people.

According to the release, most patients who undergo this surgery experience permanent weight loss. They also are likely to experience improvement in other conditions related to obesity (eg, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, fibromyalgia) and may no longer need medications to control these conditions.

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During laparoscopic gastric bypass, the surgeon reduces the patient's stomach to a small pouch, which decreases the amount of food the stomach can physically hold. The small intestine also is reconfigured so food can bypass the first section, which mildly reduces caloric absorption. Several small incisions are used during the procedure. This method benefits the patient by reducing the length of his or her hospital stay, allowing an earlier return to activity, and reducing scarring and pain.

Ten years after undergoing the procedure, many patients have maintained weight loss of 100 pounds, according to the release. Weight loss leads to significant health improvement for many of these patients. One study found that patients who had type II diabetes no longer needed insulin therapy, and patients who needed joint replacements became good candidates for the procedure after losing weight.

Surgery for obesity is recommended only for people whose body mass index (BMI) is 40 or greater. Body mass index is determined by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. People with a BMI between 35 and 40 with an obesity-related disease also may be candidates.

Losing Weight Surgically: New Hope for Severely Obese (news release, Arcadia, Calif: Methodist Hospital, Dec 10, 2001) http://newsdesk.com (accessed 11 Dec 2001).

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Laparoscopic gastric bypass an option for the obese - Brief Article

AORN Journal, Feb, 2002

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