■ Healthcare
Continued From Page 36 medical problems associated with obesity . They include diabetes , high blood pressure , sleep apnea , arthritis , heart disease , cancers , reflux and many others . Robotic surgery has enabled Jersey Shore University Medical Center to provide an increasing number of patients with surgical interventions when it comes to revisional operations . These patients may have avoided traditional surgical procedures that necessitate a longer hospital stay , have more associated discomfort or pain or have been too risky to perform . Over time , people who have undergone bariatric surgery may experience complications or weight regain . This can happen if the patient failed to follow nutrition guidelines after surgery , stretching of the connections that were previously made or perhaps they did not receive the bariatric surgery technique that was best for them . Complex revisional surgery may be necessary to correct the issue for these patients and continue to help them struggling with obesity . Recent technological advancements in surgical robots provide surgeons with additional patient-specific guidance during procedures which adds safety . For example , fluorescence imaging technology FIREFLY provides surgeons with enhanced , infrared imaging of the body , increasing precision during surgery . Another new feature of the robotic stapler helps the surgeon accurately gauge the size of tissues so the correct sized surgical staplers are used . These advances , combined with the already-robust safety features in minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery , make it ideal for routine and more complex cases . This helps the patient experience less pain and discomfort , have a shorter hospital stay and increase the overall safety of procedures .
Holy Name Medical Center By Stefanie Vaimakis , M . D ., Medical Director of Bariatric Services
Our bariatric services provide patients with a compassionate , comprehensive program that includes state-of-the-art surgical weight-loss treatment options combined with nutrition , fitness , and psychosocial support services . We are dedicated to helping patients experience long-term weight loss success while embracing healthier lifestyle choices . We perform all weight-loss surgeries using the da Vinci robot at Holy Name . This approach not only provides greater precision , but also leads to smaller incisions , minimal scarring , a quicker recovery and just one overnight stay for patients . By far , one of the most important benefits is that patients often only need over-the-counter pain relief medication , rather than narcotic pain medication . In the morning after surgery , patients are often sitting up and ready to go home , with minimal discomfort . Surgical options include gastric sleeve surgery and gastric bypass surgery . Bariatric surgery is the best long-term solution
for obesity , and can potentially put type 2 diabetes into remission , reduce high blood pressure and high cholesterol , ease asthma and sleep apnea , lessen joint pain , and relieve stress urinary incontinence . As a designated Metabolic Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program Accredited Comprehensive Center , Holy Name ensures patients ’ dignity and comfort with a dedicated inpatient unit , nurses with expertise in caring for bariatric patients , sensitivity training for all staff and equipment and furnishings designed for larger patients .
Jefferson Health-New Jersey By Louis Balsama , D . O ., FACS
Over the past several decades , bariatric ( weight-loss ) surgery has become an effective , safe and popular method to help morbidly obese individuals safety lose weight . There are several options for bariatric surgery ; the most common are sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass procedures . Bariatric
Joint and back pain associated with obesity , urinary incontinence , venous problems in the legs , acid reflux , menstrual irregularities , and certain types of headaches can also improve with weight loss after surgery .
surgery can improve — or even reverse — many serious medical conditions , including diabetes , hypertension , high cholesterol and sleep apnea . To qualify for a bariatric procedure , men and women must have a Body Mass Index ( BMI ) of 35 for men and women ( about 100 pounds overweight ). Thousands of area residents have come to our hospital to undergo life-changing bariatric procedures . Our team offers support before and after weight-loss surgery . As a surgeon , it is very gratifying to see a patient ’ s life and health transform through one surgery .
RWJBarnabas Health By Anish Nihalani , M . D ., FACS , FASMBS , Medical Director , RWJ Rahway Surgical Weight-Loss Program
A 62-year-old male , standing 5 ' 7 " and weighing 227 pounds , may not seem like an obvious candidate for weight-loss surgery , but
bariatric surgery is not only life-changing , it ’ s life-saving . Our patient struggled with weight all his life . Though he watched his diet and exercised , he still had uncontrolled diabetes , high blood pressure , back pain , numbness in his leg and sleep apnea . He took about 15 medications daily . He had suffered a minor heart attack , which led him to have four stents implanted to prop his arteries open .
After gastric sleeve surgery , our patient lost more than 50 pounds and now finds his diabetes under control , his blood pressure and cholesterol in a healthy range and he no longer has sleep apnea . The patient reports feeling more energy , no back pain and numbness and is taking no medications . He doesn ’ t need them . Metabolic surgery should be one of the first options to treat patients suffering from obesity and chronic medical conditions such as diabetes , hypertension and sleep apnea .
Saint Peter ’ s Healthcare System , Saint Peter ’ s University Hospital By Carlos A . Macias , M . D ., Surgical Director of Weight Loss and Bariatric Center
Saint Peter ’ s Weight Loss and Bariatric Center specializes in gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery . Our multidisciplinary approach to weight loss integrates psychological , nutritional and exercise support prior to surgery and requires completion of a preliminary surgical qualifying program to ensure compliance and success . This emphasis on education ensures that participants are fully invested in the long-term success of the procedure . With laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy , we narrow the stomach into a thin vertical sleeve , about the size and shape of a banana and remove the remainder of the stomach , leaving a smaller stomach . The patient feels full on less food , which means less hunger . Gastric bypass surgery requires four to six small cuts in the belly for a tiny camera , a laparoscope and thin sur-
Continued On Page 40
The two most commonly performed weight-loss procedures are laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic Roux en Y gastric bypass .
Photo : Getty Images / iStockphoto
38 COMMERCE www . commercemagnj . com