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Gastro Science | Posted on 05/11/2020 by RBH
Gastric banding is a surgical treatment to reduce excess body weight and effectively treat obesity. It is opted for by people who are obese and have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. Gastric banding surgery is a type of bariatric surgery that aims to constrict the size of a person’s stomach in order to reduce or limit the intake of food, making the person feel fuller even after eating a small portion.
A gastric banding surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that is quick, reversible, and also adjustable per the need of the patient. In this surgery, the doctor will place a silicone band around the upper portion of the stomach, reducing its size to lower the intake of food. A tube is attached to the upper portion which is accessible through a port under the skin of the abdomen through which saline is injected to inflate the band. The placement of the band separates the stomach creating a small pouch that can communicate with the rest of the portion through a passage created by the band. The small pouch reasonably reduces the amount of food it can hold at one time, thus making the person feel fuller earlier in spite of eating a small portion of food. Consequently, this reduces the hunger of the person and overall food intake in return.
A gastric band surgery is preferred by many because it is minimally invasive, reversible, and less complicated with minimum after-effects or long-term problems. During the surgery, the patient is given general anesthesia, and then the doctor makes 1-5 small incisions in the abdomen to place the gastric band in the stomach via a laparoscope – a thin, long, flexible tube mounted with a camera. The band divides the top of the stomach to create a small pouch approximately 30 milliliters in volume, then the small intestines are divided into two segments and the bottom end of the divided small intestine is shifted up to connect the stomach pouch. Post this, the rest of the portion of the small intestine is connected to the small intestine below to allow the stomach juices, acid, and digestive enzymes from the newly created stomach and the small intestine is mixed with the food.
This rerouting of the food stream causes changes in the gut hormones, making the person feel fuller easily and less hungry. It is very effective in curing diabetes type 2. Post the surgery, the patient needs to make certain changes to the diet and lifestyle for the initial days only consumption of fluids and water is permitted; after a few days until the 4th week from the surgery, easily digestive foods such as liquids, yogurt, vegetable purees can be eaten. After 4 weeks up to the 6th week, soft foods are permitted, and post the 6th week all types of food can be consumed.
A gastric banding surgery is one of the safest bariatric surgeries, more so with technical advancement, the safety records of the procedure have gone up. The surgery is recommended by doctors for people who have a BMI of 30 or more and who have tried alternative methods to reduce weight but have failed. These methods include diet, exercise, and medications.
Although, this surgery is not recommended for people who:
Some of the most common risks associated with gastric banding surgery are:
More so, the weight loss as compared to other weight-loss surgeries will be comparatively low. The band can also slip or have problems, which would need another corrective surgery; it can also erode into the stomach. If the port shifts, another surgery may be required. Further, if diet and lifestyle changes are not followed, any sort of food consumption can cause vomiting, especially overeating can be seriously problematic.
However, in all gastric banding surgery is preferred by many for its low risks and greater advantages, as well more so because the procedure is reversible and has minimum side effects in comparison to other weight-loss surgeries.
