Bariatric Surgery

The problem of overweight or obesity is the most common disease in the modern world. The main danger of overweight is that in adults, obesity in its final stages leads to associated diseases and threatens the life of patients. In the final stages of obesity, dieting and exercise are ineffective. In this case, weight loss is the only way to stop the development of obesity-related diseases. In this case, bariatrics (bariatric surgery) is considered an effective way to solve this problem. Overweight surgery or bariatric surgery (bariatrics) is a modern field of medicine aimed at solving the health problems of overweight patients.

In addition, bariatric surgery also treats:

• arterial hypertension;
• diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• heart failure;
• various diseases of the stomach and other organs of the digestive system;
• diabetes mellitus (type 2).

Bariatric surgery (bariatrics) leads to significant weight loss (loss of up to 80% of excess body weight) and, as a consequence, to the disappearance of obesity-related diseases.

Bariatric surgery is a method that is resorted to only if therapeutic methods of weight correction are ineffective in treating the patient.

Bariatric surgery (bariatrics) can be prescribed only on the recommendation of a physician.

Bariatric surgery (bariatrics) comes in several types. All of them are successfully used by modern surgery:

• Restrictive operations (reducing the volume of the stomach) – installation of an intragastric balloon and gastric banding.
• Gastroplasty – removal of part of the stomach.
• Gastric bypass surgery.

What kind of bariatric surgery (bariatrics) is suitable for a patient is decided by the attending physician based on the patient’s medical history, eating habits, general condition and weight.

The effects of bariatric surgery occur within six months.
As a rule, patients:

• lose excess weight rapidly for two years after surgery;
• maintain progress in treatment for fourteen years after surgery;
• lose up to 50% of excess weight within the first six months;
• get rid of diseases such as diabetes, depression, back pain, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, etc.

Bariatric surgery has achieved a significant reduction in the risks of cancer through bariatric surgeries.

Bariatrics is a serious intervention in the human body, so surgery is prescribed only when:

• the body mass index is higher than 35-40 kg/m2;
• the patient has chronic diseases that progress against the background of obesity;
• therapeutic treatment methods have not led to an improvement in the patient’s condition.

The decision on whether bariatric surgery (bariatrics) is indicated for a patient or other weight loss options is made by the attending physician after a comprehensive examination.

Like any other surgical intervention, bariatrics (bariatric surgery) has a number of contraindications. These include:

• presence of mental illness;
• drug or alcohol dependence of the patient;
• body mass index below 30 kg/m2;
• lactation and pregnancy;
• exacerbation of eating disorders and bulimia.

Temporary contraindications include exacerbation of chronic diseases (including peptic ulcer).

Bariatric surgery (bariatrics) requires a long period of recovery, which is carried out in the intensive care unit. During the stay in treatment, the patient undergoes prophylaxis of thromboembolic complications, drug therapy. A special diet developed by a doctor-nutritionist is necessarily prescribed.

After the recovery period, patients receive individualized recommendations regarding diet and lifestyle. It is often recommended to undergo physical therapy and moderate physical activity. This is necessary not only to accelerate the patient’s recovery, but also to prevent relapses and stabilize the weight loss process.

Like any other surgical procedure, bariatric surgery carries a risk of complications later in life. It is important to realize that bariatric surgery is an intracavitary surgical procedure.

Early (within a month of surgery) complications are rare, approximately two percent of all cases. If this happens, the patient stays in the clinic for a longer rehabilitation period and undergoes the necessary treatment.

Early complications include:

• peritonitis;
• internal bleeding in the stomach area;
• thrombosis;
• myocardial infarction;
• pulmonary pneumonia;
• gastric fistula;
• inflammatory processes in the stomach;
• infections (wound and abdominal).

Surgeons prescribe prophylactic treatment to prevent complications: drug therapy (antibiotics and blood thinning drugs), wearing compression stockings.

Doctors closely monitor the patient’s diet to prevent possible stomach problems in the postoperative period.

Late complications include:

• peptic ulcer;
• vitamin D and B12 deficiencies, calcium, iron;
• diarrhea or constipation;
• dumping syndrome;
• presence of gallstones;
• formation of excess skin (due to drastic weight loss);
• hair loss;
• alcohol dependence;
• heartburn.

Bariatric surgery (bariatrics) can cause side effects in no more than three percent of cases. If any of them occur, you should consult your doctor.

It is necessary to closely monitor the condition of the stomach throughout the rehabilitation period and have regular check-ups with a gastroenterologist.

Bariatric surgery takes into account the possibility of complications and has a set of preventive methods. To prevent vitamin deficiencies, doctors may prescribe the intake of vitamin complexes and iron.

Compliance with the prescribed diet and doctor’s recommendations significantly reduces the risk of side effects and gastric diseases after the surgical intervention performed

Obesity is a serious disease that poses a threat to a person’s health and life. Therefore, it is necessary to entrust treatment only to professionals. The thoracoabdominal department is staffed by experienced surgeons who are skilled in modern bariatric surgery techniques.

Bariatric surgery in our clinic combines the achievements of modern medicine and effective time-tested techniques.

Surgical intervention is performed using the latest high-tech equipment. The optimal type of bariatric surgery is selected for each patient. Comorbidities, the patient’s condition, medical history and other peculiarities of a particular case are taken into account.

The staff of the department know modern methods of bariatric surgery. This makes it possible to achieve a lasting effect on getting rid of excess weight, including minimally traumatic laparoscopic access.