Bariatric Surgery at Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County
Individualized Solutions in Bariatric Surgery
Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County is one of a very few institutions nationwide where patients are offered a Lap-Band, Gastric Bypass or Duodenal Switch surgery as options. For select patients, bariatric surgery is an important weight-loss option, and its highly experienced surgical team is there for those individuals who meet specific criteria: persons who meet body mass index guidelines, have a history of failed sustainable weight loss on supervised programs and are willing to make dramatic changes to their lifestyle. At Lourdes, bariatric surgery is a family affair. [276K PDF]
Minimally Invasive Options
Among the bariatric procedures Lourdes' surgeons perform are:
- Lap-Band: The adjustable gastric band, or Lap-Band, is the least invasive surgical technique used to control obesity. With no cutting or stapling, a small stomach pouch is formed by placing a hollow silicone band around the upper part of the stomach to limit the amount of food the patient eats before feeling full. Unlike other techniques, no portion of the intestines is bypassed. The band can be removed in the future and the intestinal tract remains unaltered. Weight loss is more gradual with this procedure and requires postoperative adjustments to the band.
- Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Roux-en-Y is the most common of the weight-loss operations. A half-ounce pouch is created by stapling it away from the rest of the stomach. The intestines are then fashioned in a "Y" hook-up to connect this new pouch with the intestine draining the bypassed stomach, creating some malabsorption to go along with the restriction of food intake created by the new smaller stomach.
- Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch: The patient's stomach is made into a long, narrow tube about 4 ounces in size. The intestines are rerouted in a "Y" configuration, which reduces the absorption of fats, and to a lesser extent, carbohydrates and proteins. As a result, the long-term weight loss is superior to all other weight-loss operations while maintaining a much more normal eating style.
To locate a bariatric surgeon at Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, call 1-888-LOURDES.
