What procedures are generally used for surgical weight loss?
Physicians may perform surgery via laparotomy (surgical incision into the abdomen that openly exposes the surgical site); use minimally invasive techniques or laparoscope (endoscopic surgery without a large surgical incision). The procedures usually performed are:
1. Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG), a restrictive type of procedure. Food intake is reduced because the stomach is smaller. A vertical (up and down) pouch is constructed using the upper part of the stomach usually by using a surgical stapler. The pouch usually allows only 1 -2 oz of food to enter the stomach.
2. Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RNY) is a combination. The upper portion of the stomach is freed and a row of staples is placed horizontally (from side to side) a few centimeters (1-2 inches) below the esophagus - stomach junction. The gastric pouch measures also about 1 -2 oz but, unlike the previous procedure, the stomach pouch does not communicate with the rest of the stomach. In this procedure food intake is restricted because of the small stomach pouch and there is altered absorption of food because the bile and pancreatic secretions do not come into contact with food until about 75 cm beyond the stomach.
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