Gastric banding: reviews after surgery

Laparoscopic gastric banding for today is a very demanded procedure. It allows people who are overweight to reduce their uncontrollable appetite by reducing the amount of food consumed. The procedure is the imposition of a special bandage on the stomach area under the esophagus, which can significantly reduce its original size.

The main reason for the appearance of excess weight

Losing a beautiful figure is quite easy. Excess weight quickly accumulates because of a sedentary lifestyle and stressful situations. Sometimes the main factor in the collection of unnecessary kilograms becomes a family predisposition. However, despite this, in all cases of obesity without exception, one can speak about the main reason for the appearance of such a condition, which lies in the violation of eating behavior or overeating. There is no such hormonal malfunction or delayed metabolism that would, without the presence of an uncontrollable appetite, cause the development of a process of gaining excess weight.

Of course, nutritionists recommend that such patients reconsider their lifestyle, move more, do not overeat and balance nutrition. However, this does not solve the problem. Patients who are obese, themselves perfectly understand what they need to take to bring the weight of the body to a normal figure. However, in most cases, they can not do this themselves. This fact is not verbose. It is confirmed by various studies in which groups of obese patients participated. Patients initially engaged with specialists (psychotherapists, nutritionists and physiotherapists). However, during the experiment it was found out that to get rid of excess weight these patients can only by 1.5-2%, keeping the results for six months.

In such situations, when a person who is obese understands that he is not able to cope with the disease that has overtaken him on his own, he should turn to the clinic where specialists will be offered effective methods of elimination of the problem and an operation - gastric banding.

The essence of the procedure

Clinics of gastric banding work according to the methodology developed in 1986 in America. Its creator was the surgeon Lubomir Kuzmak, who is of Ukrainian origin. The main idea of the procedure is to put a ring on the upper part of the stomach, which in this case takes the form of an hourglass. However, in contrast to the time counting device, the organ of food intake is divided into two different parts by volume. The upper one, located above the ring, has a negligible capacity. Its volume is only fifteen to twenty milliliters. This is the volume of one tablespoon. Between the small and large part of the stomach is an artificially created constriction, whose diameter is approximately 1 cm.

The person who has been bandaged by the stomach can eat very little after the operation. The food, entering the small ventricle and filling it, lingers in the area above the ring. Immediately, the digestive organ receptors transmit a signal to the brain, which affirms the feeling of satiety. The patient can eat quite a bit, for example, a quarter of an apple. However, he will feel the stomach overflow. This state allows us to achieve the main goal of the operation, which consists in a sharp reduction in the amount of food eaten, and, consequently, in reducing the amount of calories entering the body.

Using a special device

To give the stomach a form of hourglass, surgeons use a special ring. This is a complex device used only in cases where the gastric banding is performed (see photo below).

On its inner side, the ring is equipped with a hydraulic system in the form of an inflatable cuff. Another part of the device used in the bandage operation is called the "port". This part is connected to the cuff by means of a small tube. The port is located under the skin of the abdomen. It is necessary in order to fill the installed system with a solution of salt or liquid. This manipulation allows you to reduce the internal lumen of the ring. And, on the contrary, the removal of a certain volume of liquid from the system leads to its expansion. This adjustment is based on the needs of the client. The procedure is carried out two months after the operation, when the ring is firmly secured in the tissues. Technically, this adjustment is very simple. The port directly through the skin is punctured with a thin needle, injecting approximately 5 ml of liquid into it. According to the patients, this procedure is painless and lasts only 3 to 5 minutes.

Indications for operation

Who recommends gastric banding? Experts say that such procedures are indicated for those clients whose body mass index exceeds 40. However, there are exceptions to this rule. The operation is performed with a body mass index of 35, if a patient with obesity suffers from varicose veins, elevated blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and leg joint disease.

In addition, experts of the gastric banding clinic warn that only people with a high degree of organization and self-discipline who have a great desire to change the existing way of life and are able to visit a doctor regularly should agree to such a procedure.

In what cases does the gastric banding receive negative feedback? With an index of body weight exceeding 50. This is a fairly high degree of obesity. Why, in such cases, does not bandage the stomach? After the application of the ring, such patients are unable to refuse excessive food intake. In such cases, specialists suggest an operation to remove part of the stomach, as well as the small intestine.

Contraindications

Who does not bandage the stomach? Feedback from experts suggests that this procedure is not recommended:

- patients under the age of 18;

- with serious diseases of blood vessels, lungs and heart;

- chronic alcoholics;

- in the presence of pathologies of the esophagus, ulcers of the duodenum or stomach;

- pregnant;

- having diagnoses of "chronic pancreatitis" and "portal hypertension";

- with cirrhosis of the liver;

- passionate sweet tooth and those who are unable to comply with the necessary diet;

- having chronic infections that can contaminate the site of the operation;

- with autoimmune pathologies of connective tissue;

- in the case of a constant intake of hormonal steroid preparations.

Preparation for the Banding Procedure

Before the operation to install a special ring on the stomach will need to pass tests, the list of which is standard when preparing for general anesthesia. For 10-14 days before the intervention, it is recommended to switch to a diet that allows you to reduce the amount of liver. During this period, the patient's diet should include:

- low-fat cottage cheese and milk;

- chicken meat;

- vegetable soups and broths;

- vegetables and fruits.

Consumption at this time of fats of vegetable and animal origin is possible, but their volume should be reduced to a minimum. After the evening meal on the eve of surgery, you can not eat or drink more. If the patient needs medication, this issue is discussed with the doctor in advance.

Procedure of the operation

Can conventional surgical intervention and "gastric banding" be compared? No. The fact is that the operation to install a special ring on the stomach is carried out on a laparoscopic (minimally invasive) method. He assumes carrying out of the given procedure without opening of a cavity of a stomach. During the operation, the specialist does only a small incision. Through it a light source and a video camera are introduced into the abdominal cavity. In addition, the patient is made four more small incisions. They are needed to enter the abdominal cavity of instruments, without which the procedure is impossible. The surgeon sees the operation area on the monitor, which displays an image taken by a video camera.

This technique is distinguished by a high level of reliability, allowing the specialist to work on those parts of the body that are not available in a normal cavitary operation.

Advantages of laparoscopic technique

Most of those who made bandages of the stomach, reviews about this operation leaves positive. After surgery, instead of a large scar on the body, there are five small scars. In addition, laparoscopic gastric banding reviews are received as a virtually painless procedure. This allows the patient to stay in the hospital for less time. The recovery period after such an operation is rather short, which allows a person to return to the usual life much earlier.

How do specialists evaluate laparoscopic gastric banding? The doctors' comments indicate that most of them accept this method. Experts note a marked decrease in the number of postoperative complications. After all, when this procedure is performed there is not a large incision, and, consequently, there are no bleeding, and the probability of infection and the development of hernias decreases. The method makes it possible to virtually eliminate such complications of the usual surgical operation as pneumonia and pulmonary exudate, increased blood clotting, etc. In addition, the procedure does not violate the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract.

Women who decided to bandage the stomach, the reviews after the operation are also positive. And this is not surprising. After all, this method not only relieves the disease, but also gives an excellent result from an aesthetic point of view. In order to be convinced of this, it is worth looking at those who have already resorted to the technique of gastric banding (photos before and after are presented in the article).

The attractiveness of the method of laparoscopic embalming is also in its reversibility. After carrying out the operation, the ring can be removed for one reason or another. In this case, the anatomy of the stomach will recover completely within a short period of time.

Postoperative period

The patient who has undergone the gastric banding procedure must adhere to some of the doctor's recommendations. For example, in the evening and in the morning after surgery, he should not eat and drink plenty of fluids. Water should only enter the body in small portions. It is enough periodically made one or two sips. Basically, they are needed in order to simply moisten the oral cavity. To start to drink doctors recommend only after 4-5 hours after the operation. If there is no problem with swallowing, then you can start using fluid without restrictions only the next day. You can drink everything that does not contain gas and sugar, for example:

- plain water;

- Warm non-strong tea or coffee;

- mineral water.

If desired, a sugar substitute can be added to the liquid. This will sweeten them and improve the taste. Such fluids are recommended to take three days, until the first chair (after enema or self). Over the next two weeks, you can switch to sweet vegetable or fruit juices and low-fat milk.

Recommendations of specialists concern the motor activity of patients. In the evening after the operation, it is important for them to get out of bed. You must do this at least once. This will require the help of relatives or staff of the clinic, where the bandages the stomach. To rise independently is not necessary, as the head can become dizzy. If the patient remains in an upright position and does not experience any problems, then he is allowed to walk without any restrictions. It is worth remembering that the active regime after the operation will help prevent the formation of blood clots in the leg veins and protect against the development of pneumonia.

In the process of rehabilitation after the performed surgical intervention, it is necessary to perform breathing exercises. If you want to clear your throat, you just need to do this. To support active breathing, you can inflate balls or rubber toys. It is desirable to do such manipulations several times within an hour. Respiratory exercises are very important, as they will avoid inflammation of the lungs.

After the gastric banding, it is necessary not to allow blood stagnation in the lower extremities, since lying in bed in the first three days is likely to form blood clots. Help in this simple exercises for the legs, consisting of flexion and extension of the feet.

Sometimes after gastric banding patients suffer from nausea and vomiting. Such conditions should be avoided by asking the medical staff for a remedy for these symptoms.

How does the person who has been bandaged with the stomach feel? The patients' comments indicate that sometimes after the operation pains appear in the abdominal cavity. If already prescribed painkillers are not enough, then it is worth informing the medical staff of the clinic about it.

As a rule, after the operation, patients notice a dysfunction of the stomach, which is manifested by difficulties in the removal of gases, as well as the absence of stool. A similar situation occurs during the first three days. If after this period the intestinal work has not recovered, then it is necessary to conduct its additional stimulation.

As for the bladder, there are usually no problems with it. But if they did appear, then the doctor should be told about it.

Multidisciplinary Medical Center

Operations for bandaging the stomach offer clinics in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities of our country. Numerous positive reviews of patients deserve the medical center "UMK-health." It is located in the city of Yekaterinburg. This is a private clinic of a multidisciplinary type, providing high quality of medical services for diagnosis of diseases, as well as providing treatment to patients with their stay in the hospital. In its activity, the specialists of the center adhere to the following principles:

- systemic and integrated service;

- efficacy and safety of treatment;

- client - oriented approach ;

- professionalism;

- maintaining comfort and offering service at the European level.

The modern clinic is a complex complex. It is designed and built on the principle of "smart home". As a contractor, a well-known German company was involved, previously building clinics in Israel, Germany and Switzerland.

There are a lot of directions of the medical activity of the center. Among them, UMMC-Health (Yekaterinburg) offers gastric banding to its patients. Reviews of this operation, the clients of the center leave, as a rule, positive. After all, they install LapBand bandages manufactured in the USA. This is the most reliable and proven device used in such procedures for more than twenty years.

What else attracts those who decided to get rid of obesity, the clinic "UMMC-Health" (Yekaterinburg)? Gastric banding (specialist reviews confirm this) is often carried out in patients with pathologies such as a hernia (abdominal wall or esophagus), cholelithiasis, etc. This requires surgical treatment that is performed simultaneously with laparoscopic procedure. All manipulations are conducted by experienced highly qualified doctors who have been trained in the world's most famous clinics.

The medical center of Ekaterinburg is the only one in Russia that applies a multidisciplinary approach to its obese patients. It is concluded that reducing the weight of patients is not only a task for surgeons. This process is also monitored by nutritionists and endocrinologists, cardiologists and psychotherapists. Such attention of the personnel creates the most favorable conditions for the elimination of the existing problem.

According to the patients who resorted to the method of gastric banding (photos before and after are presented below), the operation performed by the specialists of the center "UMMC-Health" allows to subsequently reduce the body weight to 5-7 kilograms during the month.

In addition, this procedure stabilizes the course of many pathologies, including diabetes. Patients also note normalization of cardiac activity, improvement of blood pressure and improvement of sleep.