Bariatric surgery in Alaska
Bariatric surgery in Alaska section, includes general infrmation about Bariatric surgery Procedure, Bariatric surgery Alaska Local News, Bariatric surgery Alaska Surgeon Locator and other Bariatric surgery related material.
Bariatric surgery Procedure
Bariatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity.
The term “bariatrics” refers to "weight medicine". Bariatrics generally deals with pharmacotherapy of obesity and with obesity surgery.
Overweight and obesity are strongly related to medical problems in today’s world. There are many health effects of obesity, such as heart disease, diabetes, many types of cancer, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic musculoskeletal problems, and others.
In addition to medical concerns regarding obesity, appearance (look) has a major relevance to weight and obesity.
Although diet, exercise, behavior therapy and anti-obesity drugs are first-line treatment, medical therapy for severe obesity has limited short-term success and almost nonexistent long-term success. Therefore, obesity surgery (or bariatric surgery) has been a popular treatment in the war against obesity. Weight loss surgery generally results in greater weight loss than conventional treatment, and leads to improvements in quality of life and obesity related diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
Before someone can become a candidate for bariatric surgery, certain criteria must be met. The basic criteria are:
[1] An understanding of the operation and the lifestyle changes the patient will need to make;
[2] A body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more, which is about 45 kg (100 pounds) overweight for men and 35 kg (80 pounds) for women; or
[3] A BMI between 35 and 39.9 and a serious obesity-related health problem such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or severe sleep apnea (when breathing stops for short periods during sleep).
Risks involved
Past studies found that 10 to 20 percent of bariatric surgery patients had complications while they were in the hospital. In 2006, federal researchers found that 39.6 percent of patients had complications within 180 days of surgery. The most common complications are:
[1] A composite of gastrointestinal symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, dysphagia, and reflux (20%)
[2] Anastomotic leaking (at the surgical connections between the stomach and the intestine) (12%);
[3] Abdominal hernia (7%)
[4] Infections (6%).
About 7% of patients were re-admitted to the hospital within 6 months to treat complications specific to the bariatric procedure.
The in-hospital death rate in adults undergoing obesity surgery in 2003 was 0.2%.
Laparoscopic surgery has become an important addition to this field of surgery, and demand soars, amidst scientific and ethical questions.
Surgical procedures in bariatrics
There are a number of surgical options available to treat obesity, each with their advantages and pitfalls. In general, weight reduction can be accomplished, but one must consider operative risk (including mortality) and side effects. Usually, these procedures can be carried out safely.
The surgical procedures can be grouped in three main categories:
[1] Predominantly malabsorptive procedures: although also reducing stomach size, these operations are based mainly on diversion and bypass.
[2] Predominantly restrictive procedures: a surgery that primarily reduces stomach size: Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (Mason procedure, stomach stapling); Adjustable gastric band (or "Lap Band"); Sleeve gastrectomy.
[3] Mixed procedures: applying both techniques simultaneously: gastric bypass surgery, like Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; Sleeve gastrectomy with Duodenal Switch Implantable Gastric Stimulation.
Biliopancreatic diversion
A complex operation, also known as biliopancreatic diversion (BPD), or Scopinaro procedure.
This surgery is rare now because of problems with malnourishment. It has been replaced with the Duodenal Switch, also known as the BPD/DS. Part of the stomach is re-sected, creating a smaller stomach (however after a few months the patient can eat a completely free diet as there is no restrictive component). The distal part of the small intestine is then connected to the pouch, bypassing the duodenum and jejunum. This results in around 2% of patients severe malabsorption and nutritional deficiency that requires restoration on the normal absorption.
The malabsorptive element of BPD is so potent that those who undergo the procedure must take vitamin and mineral supplements above and beyond that of the normal population. Those that do not run the risk of deficiency diseases such as anemia and osteoporosis.
Because gallstones are a common complication of rapid weight loss following any type of weight loss surgery, some surgeons may remove the gall bladder as a preventative measure during BPD. Others prefer to prescribe medication to reduce the risk of post-operative gallstones.
Far fewer surgeons perform BPD compared to other weight loss surgeries, in part because of the need for long-term nutritional follow-up and monitoring of BPD patients.
Vertical Banded Gastroplasty
a part of the stomach is permanently stapled to create a smaller pre-stomach pouch, which serves as the new stomach.
The same effect can be created using a silicone band, which can be adjusted by addition or removal of saline through a port placed just under the skin. This operation can be performed laparoscopically, and is commonly referred to as a "lap band."
Adjustable Gastric Banding
The first lower pressure, wider, one-piece adjustable gastric band called the MIDband® was introduced in 2000. Unlike many of the early bands this was designed specifically for laparoscopic insertion.
Other Bariatric surgery Procedures:
All Body Procedures Procedures
Bariatric surgery Alaska (current)
Alaska Buttock Augmentation
Alaska Calf Augmentation
Alaska Liposuction
Alaska Body Contouring
More Alaska info...
Alaska By car Alaska is connected to the contiguous U.S. (known in Alaska as the "Lower 48") through Canada via the Alaska Highway. The highway is paved and maintained year-round. Sometimes it's a little too maintained, creating a uniquely Alaskan and Canadian situation: at any given time in the summer, you're bound to hit at least several dozen miles of road construction. Since the roads in construction zones usually have only one working lane, the construction companies operate "pilot cars" (usually pick-up trucks with yellow rotating beacons and large signs that say "Follow me"). They drive back and forth between the two ends of the construction zone and lead the vehicles safely to the other end. Depending on the length of the construction zone, the wait can be anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours. Since there's only one main road, you can't really drive around the construction.
Alaska Regions
Southeastern Alaska -- Panhandle & Inland Passage
Southcentral Alaska -- Anchorage & Kenai Peninsula
Southwestern Alaska -- Alaskan Peninsula & Aleutian & other islands
Central Alaska -- Fairbanks
Arctic Alaska -- Barrow, Nome, Kotzebue
Plastic Surgery News...
- Title: Plastic Surgery Up in 2007Category: Health NewsCreated: 2/27/2008Last Editorial Review: 2/27/2008
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Patient satisfaction with burn care 1-6 years after injury.
Burns. 2008 Mar 28;
Authors: Wikehult B, Kildal M, Willebrand M
Patient satisfaction is an important outcome in health care but has not been studied in relation to burn care. The aim was to explore factors related to satisfaction with care 1-6 years after a burn. Participants were 86 adult burn patients, injured on average 3.6 years previously. The Patient Satisfaction-Results and Quality (PS-RESKVA) was used to assess satisfaction. It has four subscales: Quality of contact with the nursing staff (QCN), Quality of contact with the medical staff (QCM), Adequate treatment information (INF) and Global satisfaction with treatment (GS). Further, data were gathered regarding personality traits and health. Average scores for QCN were significantly higher than scores for the other subscales, and INF received the lowest mean score. In multiple regressions, the PS-RESKVA subscales were associated with better interpersonal relationships (all PS-RESKVA subscales), more sensation seeking (QCM, INF, and GS) and less aggressiveness (QCM and GS). Other variables contributed to a lesser degree. Total amount of explained variance ranged between 18% and 25% for the PS-RESKVA subscales. In summary, satisfaction with burn care was only moderately explained by health and personality characteristics. Further, former patients rated satisfaction with nursing staff higher than other aspects of care, especially information routines.
PMID: 18378086 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
(Source: Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries)