4 Types of Bariatric Surgery Procedures

by Apollo Hospitals Delhi Touching Lives

Obesity is one of the most common lifestyle diseases affecting kids and adults today. Over 135 million people are affected by obesity in India alone. Those who are obese and overweight are at increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes.

Bariatric surgery often comes into the picture when people are unable to lose weight through dieting and exercise. However, not everyone who is overweight can undergo bariatric surgery. They need to meet certain criterias before doctors can recommend the procedure. Patients undergoing the procedure must follow strict dietary and lifestyle changes.

Bariatric procedures can either be restrictive or malabsorptive. Restrictive surgeries involve shrinking the stomach’s capacity to hold food. This makes a person eat fewer portions and helps them to lose weight. Malabsorptive procedures change the way the body absorbs nutrients from the food and that leads to weight loss. All procedures are done laparoscopically.

1. Adjustable Gastric Banding

This procedure divides the stomach into two sections - a small upper pouch and a large lower section - through the use of an inflatable band/ring around the stomach. The upper pouch is able to hold only a small amount of food and transfers it to the lower section slowly. Therefore a person feels full quicker. The band can also be adjusted by a doctor after the surgery. Saline solution is added or removed to tighten or loosen the band. The band can also be removed at a later stage.

2. Sleeve Gastrectomy

Around 75% of the stomach is removed in this procedure. The remaining portion is stapled shut to form a long tube-like pouch. This restricts how much food a person can consume and leads to weight loss. Unlike other bariatric procedures, sleeve gastrectomy is irreversible as part of the stomach is completely removed.

3. Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

This surgery involves rerouting the passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract. A surgeon first cuts the stomach and creates a small upper pouch and a larger lower section. Then a lower portion of the intestine is cut and attached to the upper pouch. The small pouch restricts the intake of food, and bypassing a portion of the intestine ensures that fewer nutrients are absorbed.

Finally the lower section of the stomach and the top portion of the intestine are attached to the bypassed section to allow gastric juices to flow through it.

4. Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch

While this procedure involves bypassing part of the GI tract, it is different from Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. The first step is to remove part of the stomach via a sleeve gastrectomy. However, the valve that releases food into the intestines (pyloric valve) is kept intact. The small intestine is then diverted in such a way that the top part (duodenum) is attached to the lower end of the small intestine. This way two-thirds of the intestine is bypassed and nutrient absorption is reduced.

The Apollo Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Centre at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital is known for its excellent clinical outcomes in bariatric surgery. Our team is made up of some of the Top Bariatric Surgeon In Delhi like Dr Arun Prasad.

Click the link to know more about our services or to book an appointment today.