| The
Regional Center for Bariatric Surgery
Accredited by the American
College of Surgeons
High Point Regional Health System (HPRHS) has been approved for Bariatric Surgery Accreditation by the Bariatric Surgery Center Network (BSCN) Accreditation Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). The first bariatric program in North Carolina to achieve this accreditation, HPRHS’s bariatric surgery program was established in 2002, and surgeons Thomas R. Walsh, MD and James Dasher, MD have completed over 650 minimally invasive gastric bypass procedures thus far.
The ACS BSCN Accreditation Program provides confirmation that a bariatric surgery center has demonstrated its commitment to providing the highest quality care for its bariatric patients. Accredited bariatric surgery centers provide not only the hospital resources necessary for optimal care of morbidly obese patients, but also the support and resources necessary to address the entire spectrum of care and needs of bariatric patients, including the pre-hospital phase, treatment process and post-operative care. (click for more information on accreditation)
It’s difficult to overstate the impact that significant
weight loss can have on an individual’s lifestyle and
health. High blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, and elevated
cholesterol are just a few of the complications faced by people
who are severely overweight. Because the health consequences
of obesity can be so severe and because obesity has reached
epidemic proportions in our community and across America,
High Point Regional Health System is pleased to offer a low-risk
surgical procedure for significant weight loss.
Weight loss, or "bariatric," surgery is a possibility for people who are diagnosed as morbidly obese—meaning that they have more than 100 pounds of excess body weight. To these patients, the Regional Center for Bariatric Surgery offers one of the most effective and least invasive bariatric procedures—mini-gastric bypass surgery (MGB), also known as sleeve gastric bypass surgery (SGB).
 What
is MGB?
MGB is a minimally invasive procedure that divides the
stomach into a long, narrow tube and a separate larger piece.
The smaller stomach is attached about 6 feet down in the small
intestine. The larger stomach is sealed and left unattached.
The smaller stomach decreases the amount the patient can eat
and the bypass of a portion of the small intestine decreases
the absorption of fat and calories. In the more than 2,500
patients who have already undergone the procedure, this combination
of smaller volume and decreased absorption has resulted in
an average weight loss of 140 pounds in one year in a 300-pound
patient.
What are the risks and benefits?
While controversy does surround bariatric surgery of all kinds,
MGB has been found to be safer than other kinds of bariatric
surgery and many patients find that the benefits outweigh
the risks.
More than 650 patients have undergone the procedure so far
and the complication rate is less than one percent. There was one related
death. For those who are simply heavy or moderately overweight,
the surgery may not be appropriate.
Independently verified results show that many weight-related
medical illnesses were completely resolved after the operation.
 •
High blood pressure was completely resolved
in 90 percent of cases after
the operation.
• Diabetes, 92 percent
• Sleep apnea, 90 percent
• Dyspnea on exertion, 88 percent
• Elevated cholesterol, 93 percent
• Elevated triglycerides, 100 percent
• Gastroesophageal reflux, 77 percent
• Edema, 89 percent
• Arthritic pain, 72 percent
• Urinary incontinence, 81 percent
The relative weights of the risks and benefits will differ
for each patient. Anyone considering MGB (or any other bariatric
surgery), in cooperation with his or her family doctor and
a doctor qualified to perform MGB, should make every effort
to learn about how the surgery fits with his or her lifestyle.
Before the procedure can take place, High Point Regional has
patients participate in a strenuous evaluation, assessment
and educational phase. This ensures the appropriate people
are selected to participate in the procedure.
For further information, explore these pages or contact us
at (336) 878-6340. |
