TL;DR:
- What is Bariatrics? Bariatrics is a branch of surgery treating severe obesity (stage II/III) by altering the gastrointestinal tract to regulate hunger/satiety and reduce weight.
- Main Procedures:
- Gastric Bypass: Reduces stomach capacity to 30-50 ml.
- Sleeve Gastrectomy: Removes a large portion of the stomach.
- Gastric Banding: Reversible stomach reduction method.
- Preparation: Involves a team of specialists (e.g., surgeon, dietitian, cardiologist, psychologist). Assessments include medical history, BMI, expectations, and necessary tests.
- Tests Required: Echo/ECG, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasound, gastroscopy, Doppler, spirometry, sleep apnea test, body composition, bloodwork, and glucose/lipid profiles.
- Post-Surgery: Requires strict lifestyle changes, adherence to recommendations, and ongoing specialist care for up to 1 year, including psychological support.
Overweight and obesity are increasingly common conditions that occur in both adults and children. Thus, in the case of weight problems, appropriately selected diets, exercise regimes, or individualized treatments are recommended. Sometimes, however, obesity is so severe that it requires much more far-reaching intervention – bariatric surgery. What does such a procedure consist of, what is the preparation process for the surgery, and what can be performed as part of it?
What is bariatrics?
Bariatrics is a branch of general surgery that deals with advanced obesity (stage II and III). Surgical procedures performed as part of it are aimed at making changes to the gastrointestinal tract to improve the functioning and condition of the body. This includes interfering with the neurohormonal mechanisms regulating food intake, responsible for feelings of hunger and satiety, which ultimately lead to the reduction of excessive body weight.
What procedures are performed as part of bariatric surgery?
Within the framework of surgical treatment of obesity, three main procedures are carried out, selected individually for each patient based on his or her health condition, the degree of obesity and its accompanying problems, as well as the results that the patient and his or her attending physician want to achieve. The first type of bariatric surgical intervention is gastric bypass surgery, which involves cutting out a significant portion of the stomach. After the procedure, the organ has a capacity of about 30-50 ml. The second type of interference is sleeve gastrectomy, which is performed among obesity treatments quite often. It involves the removal of the fundus, body and elements of the prepyloric region, just before the junction of the stomach with the duodenum. The most popular procedure, however, is gastric banding, a method that is reversible and used for weight reduction. [read more url="https://otcoclinic.com/offer/" text="Gastric reduction methods, or bariatrics without secrets"].
Who prepares and qualifies for bariatric surgery?
Preparation for bariatric surgery is multidisciplinary in nature. It is a team of specialists from different fields of medicine working together on a given case. The attending physician is a bariatric surgeon, who consults the patient's qualification process with an internist, cardiologist, pulmonologist, nutritionist and psychologist. Control of individual body systems in the process of qualifying for surgery and right after is extremely important, since obesity affects the entire body. Changes in it, including in other organs besides the stomach, must remain under close control and be subjected to follow-up examinations after the operation.
What is the process of preparing for bariatric surgery?
Central to the entire bariatric procedure is the care of the attending physician – the bariatric surgeon. Meetings include assessing the patient's overall health and condition, measuring BMI and determining the degree of obesity present. It is also to conduct a detailed interview with the patient, learning about his expectations, habits and problems related to obesity. Choosing the right type of treatment for a patient also involves the patient's age, gender and type of obesity. After discernment and a review of the patient's past treatment history, the bariatric treatment method that is most beneficial to the specific case will be selected. The bariatric surgeon will then order the necessary tests to be performed and refer for consultations with individual specialists in other fields. On the basis of the results and all specialized opinions, a final decision will be made to qualify a particular patient for bariatric surgical treatment.
What does the specialist consultation before bariatric surgery consist of?
The dietitian conducts a detailed interview about the patient's diet and eating habits. He then determines a detailed nutrition plan to prepare the body for surgery. This consultation also discusses post-surgery nutrition and specific recommendations related to food intake. The plan is arranged in a way that is healthy, beneficial and prevents nutritional deficiencies. An internal medicine and pulmonology consultation diagnoses or rules out coexisting sleep apnea in the patient. A treatment plan is established leading to getting rid of the ailment before bariatric surgery. It is also the performance of a polysomnography test and the implementation of treatment if the result obtained indicates the presence of the ailment. Also important in the qualification process for bariatric surgery is a cardiologist, who will check the function and condition of the heart, including the vessels, and rule out conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias and hypertension. This is because they are factors that increase the risk of complications of the planned operation. The psychologist's task throughout the process is to assess the patient's readiness for the radical changes associated with the operation and lifestyle changes, and the level of motivation he or she has for adhering to dietary restrictions and making lifestyle changes after the operation. It's also an assessment of the emotional commitment to the entire process and the overall attitude towards the upcoming events related to the surgery.
What tests are performed as part of the qualification for bariatric surgery?
The tests necessary before bariatric surgery are:
- Echocardiography – the so-called echo of the heart is a type of test to assess the regularity of the heart, to detect unwanted acoustic phenomena (such as murmurs), changes in the appearance and size of the heart. It detects the causes of chest pain of unknown origin, irregular work or shortness of breath. The echo of the heart allows examination of the thickness of the walls of the heart, individual parameters of the heart, assessment of the structure and work of the valves, performance of the organ, existing congenital defects, blood clots, tumors or fluid in the pericardium.
- ECG is a non-invasive and painless examination performed in case of cardiac arrhythmias and emerging chest pain, dizziness, arrhythmias and palpitations.
- Chest X-ray is an imaging study that allows detailed evaluation of the heart, chest and lungs. It is recommended in the diagnosis of shortness of breath, persistent cough, chest pain, as well as in the treatment and evaluation of the condition of the lungs after or during inflammation, and in the detection of emphysema and cancer.
- Abdominal ultrasound helps evaluate the condition of organs located within the abdominal cavity. It allows a thorough analysis of the condition of the bile ducts, liver, kidneys or pancreas.
- Exercise stress test is an electrocardiographic exercise test, which shows the relationship of the changing ECG in relation to exercise. During increased activity, the demand for oxygen increases, and so the coronary vessels do more work. The test detects their throughput and assesses their capacity.
- Gastroscopy, also called panendoscopy, is an endoscopic method to assess the condition of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The examination is not pleasant, as it involves inserting a tube into the esophagus with a light source and equipment that records the image encountered. Gastroscopy allows an in-depth evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the duodenum.
- Lower extremity venous Doppler allows assessment of blood flow within the arteries and veins located in the legs. It detects varicose veins and embolic and thrombotic disease. It is an accurate, non-invasive and painless test.
- A spirometry test is an assessment of lung capacity, which provides a detailed evaluation of lung capacity and volume, along with airflow taking place at various stages of the respiratory cycle.
- Sleep apnea testing (polysomnography) is a study of the activities occurring in the human body during sleep. It detects the causes of sleep disorders and allows evaluation of its various stages. It is performed on people with breathing difficulties and breathing disorders, suffering from sleep apnea or struggling with the problem of snoring.
- Body Composition Analysis is an important element in the diagnosis of obese people. It helps determine the ratio between muscle tissue, fat tissue, body hydration and bone composition and mineralization. The test is also called electrical bioimpedance (BIA) and is performed via a low and harmless current. Body composition analysis also allows you to assess daily energy requirements and the body's metabolic age.
- Blood morphology – a basic diagnostic blood test.
- Sugar curve 3 pt is an oral glucose tolerance test to assess blood sugar levels.
- Biochemical tests: creatinine, urea, sodium, potassium, bilirubin, AST, ALAT and lipid profile.
- HBs is a test to detect the presence of an antigen in the body that indicates the existence of hepatitis B (HBV).
- Anti-HCV antibody level – a test to detect hepatitis C.
- Evaluation of dietary regimen, levels of protein, albumin, vitamins and micronutrients.
Performing the above tests as part of the qualification program for bariatric surgery allows us to obtain a reliable and comprehensive picture of the obese patient's health status and determine the changes caused by the previous lifestyle. This is extremely important for selecting the appropriate type of bariatric surgery and determining strict recommendations for postoperative management.
What else does the bariatric surgery qualification program cover?
Bariatric surgery involves not only surgical interventions involving the stomach, but also changes in almost all habits and lifestyles of obese people. With the entire procedure, it is possible to reduce weight and improve overall health, but this requires strict adherence to recommendations and regular health checks and monitoring. The effects of bariatric surgery are closely monitored until about a year after the procedure is performed. At that time, the patient is still under the care of specialists and regular examinations along with consultations are required. This continues with psychological support as well, aimed at assessing possible appetite disorders and the patient's approach to the changes taking place throughout the body.
Conclusion
Bariatric surgery offers a lifeline for those battling severe obesity. It combines advanced procedures, preparation, and follow-up care to ensure health improvements and long-term success. The process involves multiple specialists, thorough tests, and personalized plans to maximize safety and effectiveness. While the journey requires commitment, the rewards—better health and a transformed quality of life—are worth it. If you follow the outlined steps and stay dedicated, bariatric surgery can lead to lasting, positive change.
