Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery

Laparoscopic bariatric surgery has achieved dramatic improvement in patient discomfort and length of hospital stay

Laparoscopic bariatric surgery is bariatric surgery that is done with a laparoscope or an endoscope. These devices contain a fibre optic system to illuminate the operative site and a viewing system made up of a lens, camera and monitor. Laparoscopic bariatric surgery allows surgeons to create fewer and much smaller incisions during a bariatric endoscopic surgery procedure. This has many benefits including reduced pain and recovery time.

Laparoscopic bariatric surgery has also been shown to reduce the amount of blood that is lost during laparoscopic weight loss surgery. Improved laparoscopic weight loss surgery techniques have resulted in progressive improvement in both the safety and long term stability of bariatric surgical procedures. Reports of staple line failures of 15% or more have resulted in increasing use of gastric transection, a technique which has almost universally been adopted by proponents of the laparoscopic bariatric surgery approach to gastric bypass.

Laparoscopic bariatric surgery differs from what is known as open bariatric surgery in that laparoscopic bariatric surgery is a far less invasive procedure. Open bariatric surgery has been around for years and is largely responsible for the commonly heard horror stories surrounding the topic of bariatric surgery.

Because laparoscopic bariatric surgery involves fewer incisions and less exposed tissue, it is a much safer form of bariatric surgery. Many people wonder why it is, then, that many surgeons still perform only open bariatric surgery. The answer is quite simple. Laparoscopic bariatric surgery is very technically demanding and beyond the skills of the majority of general surgeons. Training options for general surgeons interested in laparoscopic bariatric surgery are quite limited. The main reason that many surgeons resist laparoscopic bariatric surgery training, beyond the temporary loss of income, is the difficulty an established surgeon may have with returning to practice as a resident with limited authority.

In addition to the more traditional gastric bypass procedures, is an adjustable LapBand procedure that utilizes a silicone banding device that is used to create a smaller stomach reservoir or pouch. The main advantage of a laparoscopic bariatric surgery using the LapBand device is that the restrictive effect can be adjusted without further surgery. Adjustments to laparoscopic bariatric surgery using a LapBand device can be performed in office, in only a few minutes and without sedation.

The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure is the most commonly performed laparoscopic weight loss surgery performed in the nation today. This type of laparoscopic bariatric surgery involves restricting the stomach cavity as well as connecting the smaller stomach to the upper small intestine. This way, ingested food bypasses portions of the stomach and small intestine so that fewer calories are absorbed in addition to the restricted food intake achieved by decreasing the size of the stomach.

In a Roux-en-Y laparoscopic bariatric surgery, the unused portions of stomach and small intestine remain fully viable and able to function, though they are not actively used during digestion after this procedure. This type of bariatric endoscopic surgery has been shown to produce more significant weight loss than other laparoscopic bariatric surgery procedures.

There are many advantages and disadvantages correlating to each type of laparoscopic bariatric surgery procedure. Generally speaking, the most effective procedures are more expensive and require more complex laparoscopic bariatric surgery and increased recovery time. All laparoscopic bariatric surgery programs include ongoing support and postoperative care plans. It is important that you go over these options with your healthcare team before deciding which type of laparoscopic bariatric surgery is right for you.