Bariatric Surgery

Diagnosis Several health care professionals will need to meet with you before the surgery, including an internist, a dietician, a psychiatrist, and a bariatric surgeon.

• In addition to taking a physical exam and ordering blood tests, the internist will ask about your medical history.

• To make significant changes in your diet before and after surgery, a dietician will gather the information about your eating habits and compile a detailed guide.

• To determine if you can cope with the challenges associated with weight-loss surgery, a psychiatrist or psychologist will assess your mental health.

To reduce the risks of the surgery, the bariatric surgeon will suggest you lose weight through diet and exercise.

The test

• Tests include complete blood tests to determine blood sugar levels, white blood cell counts, and much more.

• Abdominal ultrasound to ensure the liver, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, and kidneys are healthy and do not have any issues, such as stones. In order to determine the best path to carry out the procedure, a computerized tomography (CT) scan is performed.

• An electrocardiogram (EKG) analyzes the heart condition.

The procedure

Nurses will place a urinary catheter and IV line before taking you to the operation theater (OT). You will also have equipment in the OT to monitor your temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen levels.

Your body will be covered by a surgical drape in the OT. Only the abdomen will be exposed, and your skin will be cleaned properly with a chemical solution.

Following are the steps involved in the surgery:

Incisions will be made in the skin tissues. In order to access the stomach and intestines during an open laparotomy, a large incision will be made across the stomach. Based on the type of bariatric surgery, the size and location of the incision will vary.

When performing a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon makes four to six small incisions in the abdomen, approximately 1-2 inches long. Incisions are also made into the mesothelium (the layer of tissues surrounding the abdominal organs).

Depending on the type of surgery, the next steps are likely to include the following:

• Inflating a balloon inside the stomach.

• Sutures are used to close a major part of the stomach.

• Wrapping a band around the stomach.

• A major part of the stomach and intestine is closed by surgically repositioning the small intestine.

The incisions will be closed and bandaged after the stomach and small intestine are positioned as required. A temporary drain will also be placed inside the stomach, extending to the exterior.

The anesthesia will be stopped and the breathing tube will be removed. The anesthesia team will ensure that you are breathing fine afterward before taking you to the recovery room.