HEALTH & WELLNESS
St. Francis Medical Center offers surgical weight-loss options
Anyone who has tried to lose weight knows it’ s not easy. A healthy diet and exercise regimen are difficult to maintain, and studies have shown that most people who shed pounds end up regaining them – and then some – within three years.
If you’ re severely obese, losing weight is even harder. Bariatric, or weight-loss, surgery could be right for you.
“ When combined with a comprehensive treatment plan, bariatric surgery can be an effective tool for long-term weight loss and improve a patient’ s quality of life,” says Chairman of Surgery at St. Francis Medical Center Louis Fares II, MD, FACS.“ Bariatric surgery has been shown to improve or resolve many obesity-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.”
Types of surgery
Bariatric surgery works by restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold and how nutrients are absorbed into the body. There are often hormonal changes, as well, that affect feelings of hunger and fullness.“ Bariatric surgery can lead to significant weight loss and improved health,” says Dr. Fares.
Today, most bariatric procedures are performed using minimally invasive approaches. The following descriptions comprise the most common bariatric procedures:
• Sleeve gastrectomy: During a sleeve gastrectomy, about 80 percent of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow gastric tube or“ sleeve.” This significantly reduces the amount of food( and thus calories) that the stomach can hold. In addition, the part of the stomach that produces ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite, is removed, noticeably reducing hunger. The stomach’ s connection of the esophagus and small intestine are left intact. Patients can expect to lose 60 to 70 percent of their excess body weight.
• Gastric bypass: In this operation( also known as the Rouxen-Y), the surgeon first divides the stomach into a small upper pouch and a much larger lower“ remnant” pouch. The surgeon then configures a small-intestine connection to the upper pouch. As the new upper stomach can only hold a small amount of food, the patient becomes full more quickly. Additionally, because the digestive tract now goes around a portion of the small intestine, fewer calories and nutrients are absorbed. Because fewer nutrients are absorbed, gastric bypass patients need to take vitamin B12, iron, calcium and other supplements to avoid deficiencies, according to Dr. Fares. Patients can expect to lose 60 to 85 percent of their excess body weight.
• Adjustable gastric band: In this procedure, the bariatric surgeon implants an artificial inflatable ring near the top of the stomach to create a small pouch. The ring acts like a belt, so eating only a small amount of food will satisfy hunger and promote a feeling of fullness. The size of the stomach opening can be adjusted by filling the band with sterile saline, which is injected through a port placed under the skin. Unlike other bariatric procedures, the gastric band is adjustable and can be reversed. However, patients typically lose less excess weight, between 30 and 60 percent.
Bariatric surgery at St. Francis
At St. Francis, your team of highly skilled surgeons, nurse practitioners, nurses, dietitians and other healthcare providers are there with you every step of your weight-loss transformation. You can expect:
• A team approach
• Advanced minimally invasive techniques, including robotic surgery – less pain and a faster recovery
• Care when you need it
• Monthly support groups
St. Francis Medical Center’ s Bariatric team includes Jeanne K. Fares, BSN, RN; Ervin Mita, CRNFA; Patricia Jones, Dawne Moore, RN; and Louis Fares II, MD, FACS. For appointments or consults, call Dr. Fares at 609-599-5550. For general information or to find a St. Francis physician, call 609-599-5000 or visit www. stfrancismedical. org.
www. njcopsmagazine. com ■ APRIL 2018 87