Learn about the bariatric procedures available
If you are trying to lose weight, you might be interested in a bariatric procedure. Saint Vincent Bariatric Center is offering minimally invasive bariatric procedures performed by board certified surgeons in Erie, PA. The following laparoscopic procedures are being performed:
These laparoscopic procedures provide patients with smaller incisions, shorter recovery times and less risk of infection. These procedures are being performed by surgeons Muhammad Asad, MD and Jawaid Kalim, MD. Dr. Asad completed his fellowship in Bariatric Surgery at University Medical Center in Princeton, NJ and is a member of the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Kalim completed his fellowship in Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at the University of Missouri and is board certified by the American Board of Surgery.
How does gastric bypass work?
Gastric bypass surgery is an operation that creates a small pouch to restrict food intake and bypasses a segment of the small intestine. In this procedure the surgeon makes a direct connection from the stomach pouch to a lower segment of the small intestine, bypassing the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), and some of the second part of the intestine (jejunum), delaying the mixing of ingested food and the digestive enzymes.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) is the gold standard and most commonly performed bariatric surgery in the U.S. The surgeon begins by creating a small stomach pouch (15-20cc), then attaches a section of the small intestine directly to the pouch. The remainder of the stomach is stapled shut and divided from the smaller pouch. This allows food to bypass a portion of the small intestine where calories and nutrients are normally absorbed. This also restricts the food intake.
How does sleeve gastrectomy work?
This is a restrictive procedure that limits the amount of food you eat by reducing the size of your stomach. During the procedure, a thin vertical sleeve of stomach is created using a stapling device. This sleeve typically holds 50-150mls and is about the size of a banana. The operation involves permanently removing a large portion of the stomach to limit food intake and lessen the sensation of hunger. By helping patients eat less and feel full faster, it induces weight loss and leads to improved health and a better quality of life.
How does gastric banding work?
Click on the image to the right to watch a short video about how
gastric banding with the LAP-BAND® System works.
The LAP-BAND® procedure is available without any stomach cutting or stapling, and reduces your stomach’s capacity, restricting the amount of food you are able to eat at
one time. The LAP-BAND® is an inflatable silicone device that is placed around the top portion of the stomach, via laparoscopic surgery. When placed around the top portion of the stomach the band creates a stoma, or small pouch at the top of the stomach that holds approximately 110 to 220 grams of food each meal. This pouch fills with food quickly and the band slows the passage of food from the pouch to the lower part of the stomach. As the upper part of the stomach registers as full, the message to the brain is that the entire stomach is full. This sensation helps the person to feel full quicker, eat smaller portions and lose weight over time.
The LAP-BAND® is placed laparoscopically and, unlike gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, does not require cutting or stapling of the stomach or gastrointestinal rerouting to bypass normal digestion. The procedure is safe, minimally invasive, adjustable, and reversible, and offers comparable weight loss to that seen with standard gastric bypass at 36 months and beyond.
The gastric band is inflated/adjusted via a small access port placed just under the skin. Saline solution is introduced into the gastric band via the port. When saline is introduced into the band it expands, placing pressure around the outside of the uppermost part of the stomach, and thereby creating a small pouch. This pouch has a very limited capacity for food and when full will cause the patient to feel satiated.
Over the course of several visits to the doctor, the band is filled to an extent where the patient feels he or she has found what is colloquially known as the “sweet spot” or "green zone", where optimal restriction has been achieved, neither so loose that food intake is not controlled, nor so tight that little or no food and fluids will pass. This is an individual experience and cannot be predicted.
In order to learn more about the multidisciplinary approach or to register for a free seminar about the LAP BAND procedure call our bariatrics team at (814) 452-7800.