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Physician Insight:
Procedure Overview
Weight-loss surgery: A laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedure for obesity will be performed live over the Internet from Tampa General Hospital on March 6, 2007 at 4 p.m. ET. The LAP-BAND® System procedure, as it is commonly called, involves placing an adjustable band around the connection between the food pipe and stomach to restrict the amount of food an individual can consume at one time. Since it is adjustable, the band can gradually be tightened by the physician during office visits, allowing individuals to use it as a tool to change their eating behaviors and lose weight. The procedure is intended to help patients reach a healthier weight in order to lead more mobile and active lives.
Obesity is a chronic disease that affects more than 60 million Americans over the age of 20. It affects every organ system in the body and can cause major illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, acid reflux disease and degenerative joint disease. People who weigh twice their ideal body weight are candidates for weight loss surgery.
Michel Murr, M.D., Director of Bariatric Surgery at Tampa General Hospital and Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of South Florida College of Medicine will perform the procedure in which five small incisions are made in the abdomen to allow passage of a light, camera and surgical instruments. The abdomen is then inflated with air to allow a better view of the stomach and internal structures. The procedure is typically 30 minutes to an hour depending on the size of the patient's liver as it affects where instruments are placed as well as where the band is delivered.
When compared to gastric bypass surgery, which allows food to bypass the stomach and proceed directly to the small bowel, the lap band procedure is relatively shorter and involves less cutting and rerouting of the intestinal tract. It also is less risky. "The likelihood of having a major complication with a LAP-BAND® System is about 0.1 percent, while the likelihood of having a complication with the bypass procedure is about 10 percent," says Dr. Murr. Due to pre-emptive medications for pain and nausea, patients recovering from the LAP- BAND® System procedure may be discharged as early as the day of surgery and can expect to be back to daily activities in one to two weeks.
Since 1998, TGH has helped over 1,000 patients regain and maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle with a dedicated team of healthcare professionals and comprehensive pre-and post-surgery follow-up care.
Tampa General Hospital is designated as an American Society for Bariatric Surgery Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence, and is the first hospital in the nation to receive a disease-specific accreditation for bariatric services by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. This designation is given to bariatric surgery centers and physicians with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery and commitment to excellence. Tampa General Hospital is designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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