Lap Band Surgery On Obese Patients With Little Success On Weight Loss
Problem statement
Lap band surgery which is otherwise referred to as laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery is often carried out on obese patients to enable them counteract the condition. The lap band is a silicon device which is placed around the top part of the stomach of obese patients whose body mass index is equal to or higher than forty. This band creates a small pouch on top of the stomach which will be receiving the food which does not exceed 220 grams during each meal. The pouch passes on the food to the stomach slowly and within no time the brain identifies the stomach as being full and the individual stops eating although it is the pouch which is full and not the entire stomach U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2009).Thee mechanism is meant to make the person feel hungry less often in addition to feeling full quite easily for a longer period thus the individual eats smaller portions of food. By reducing the amount of food consumed by the obese person, lap band is seen as the solution to the patient’s weight problem Allergan (2008).
Obese patients with a history of having to struggle with weight problems and especially those who have tried all other procedures to no avail are often allowed to adopt lap band surgery. This is usually the last option after all the other procedures have failed to make any significant change. This procedure has its fair share of complications as well as its share of advantages and it therefore becomes quite essential to determine its efficiency at helping obese patients overcome their weight problems Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (2006).The problem statement calls for a more intense understanding of the effectiveness of lap band surgery on obese patients who have resorted to using it after all the other methods of controlling obesity have failed. A more keen study on the success associated with the procedure is sought for in this research so that the efficiency of lap band surgery is established Fielding, (2010).
Hypothesis
Lap band surgery as been known to present long term positive results obese patients as it encourages better eating habits such as eating smaller portions of food at specific intervals. Thus, individuals who find it being difficult to control their eating habits are able to learn new ways of controlling the habit even after the band has been withdrawn. This creates a long term solution for the patient’s therefore making lap band surgery the best method for handling the disorder U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2009).The null hypothesis is stated as lap band surgery being inefficient in treating obesity due to the series of complication which arise after the procedure and they present severe situations other than obesity.
Methodology
The sample population which will be considered for the research should be between the ages of 18 and 55 years. This category is often faced by severe weight problems and quite a significant percentage is obese. These participants should post a body mass index of 40 or above 35 which is considered as obese and they should have suffered form the disease for a period of five years during which the other weight control procedures should have been executed. However, the sample population must prove that they have not been on any weight control medication for at least one year prior to the research. Consequently, the participants must be willing to adhere to the strict restrictions laid out by the procedure in order to achieve long term success.
Similarly, certain conditions must be met by all participants such as the health conditions which include cardiopulmonary diseases due to the side effects which may be presented by the procedure Allergan (2008).After the sample population has been selected, the lap band will be inserted upon consequent visits to the doctor whereby the band is fitted to the extent which feels more comfortable to the patient. This spot is referred to as the “green zone” and it allows the patient to achieve optimal restriction of the stomach capacity. At this point, the band is neither too loose to allow food to pass through nor so tight that food is regurgitated. Subsequent visits to the doctor are compulsory to follow-up in order to check for any infections caused by the lap band (The International Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery Team 2010).After the lap band is fitted a small pouch is formed at the top of the stomach so that the capacity the stomach is reduced to hold only 220 grams of food.
The pouch will be getting full quite easily such that the patient will feel full after eating only a small portion of the entire meal therefore reducing the overall consumption. When ingestion stops, the pouch will gradually release the food into the stomach so that it can undergo through the normal digestion process. At times the individual may be forced to consume more than the capacity of the pouch and the excess is usually regurgitated as the pouch is unable to extend beyond its normal Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (2006).At this point, the patient eats less food at intervals which are far apart and this way the patient is able watch and maintain their weight. Patient who have had lap bands inserted into their stomachs are usually asked to incorporate other healthy living habits such as engaging in physical exercises. Consequently, they are asked to reduce the intake of high caloric foods which are highly processed but in their place to include green vegetables and plenty of fruits in their diets. Similarly, the participants were asked to remain with the lap band for a period of five years in order to achieve the desired results Fielding, (2010).
Results
After successful surgery to insert the lap band into the target population, the appropriate physical exercises for each individual were identified and spelt out to them. Participants who strictly adhered to the routine were able to lose between 450-900 grams of weight per week immediately after insertion. However, after one year, the patients had gotten used to eating smaller portions of meals as well as being used to exercising and as the trend continued, maintenance and control of body weight ceased to pose serious problems (The International Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery Team 2010).
These results were dependent on mobility such that the more physical exercises an individual participated in, the more the grams lost. In addition to mobility, the amount of motivation presented to different participants also contributed to achievement of better results. Participants who were eager to lose weight as well as those who adhered to the guidelines set up by the study team posted more weight loss U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2009).Participants who were optimistic about losing weight developed psychological strength in addition to being recipient to counseling therapy. Support from other participants also contributed to achievement of more favorable results keeping in mind that all the participants had tried other methods of weight loss. This makes counseling equally essential for the lap band surgery to such that the patients are encouraged develop a positive mindset towards the operation Fielding, (2010).
It was observed that the impact of band restriction was only felt greatly immediately after surgery but over time it reduced such that subsequent weight maintenance in the other phases was based on habit rather than the band. However, as the patients lost weight it was observed that their internal organs such as the stomach also shrunk to an extent to which the band system fill had to be increased slightly (The International Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery Team 2010).Most of the participants suffered from increased regurgitation of already swallowed food or sometimes even saliva from the pouch. This condition is medically known as Productive Burping and it is usually normal for patients who have had the lap band surgery carried out on them. Productive Burping is considered as a put of by many participants although it encouraged them to eat slowly such that they were able to chew their food thoroughly in the process.
Similarly, by eating less, they were able to reduce the frequency of productive burping occurrence and in a way this contributed to weight loss. At some point it was noted that the passage of food from the pouch into the larger stomach would be obstructed by huge chunks of unchewed food hence causing discomfort to the patients. As a way of evading from such rather embarrassing situations, the patients had no option but to make sure that they chew their food thoroughly before swallowing (The International Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery Team 2010).Generally, the procedure ensures that after the patient has been able to adapt a consistent life style which catered for weight control the lap band could be retrieved form the individual’s body. Similarly, in the course of treatment the band could be adjusted without any further surgery thus minimizing the hospital stay as well as reduced surgical procedures. The lap band surgery does not affect the ability of the body to absorb nutrients from the digested food as it is not connected to the intestines. In addition to that the procedure has few life threatening complications thus making it safer due to a lower mortality rate for the participants Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (2006).
Conclusion
Obesity patients who undergo lap band surgery are able to loose approximately 60%of their average excess body weight. This is often accomplished when the patients are able to strictly adhere to the therapy associated with the procedure such that the activity is not only based on reduced food portions. Research has shown that more dependable solutions are achieved after incorporating physical exercises as well as adoption of lifestyles which contribute to weight control (The International Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery Team 2010).Although reduced capacity of the stomach is medically seen as the sole cause of reduced consumption of food, the impact of productive burping has been identified as the crucial aspect of reduce food intake. This way the obese patient is conditioned to eat only small portions of food and after they embrace such a behavior they are able to control what they eat Fielding,(2010).Involvement of family, friends and other obese patients in the study has been seen to increase motivation which leads to development of a positive mind such that the patients able to lose weight.
Therefore, the surgical component of the research is seen as one of the key aspects of weight loss although other strategies used are quite essential Fielding, (2010).Obesity patients who are seeking long term treatment or control measures for their conditions are more suitably at home with lap band surgery as its goals are long term. The procedure not only incorporates adoption of healthy lifestyles over the lifespan of the patient but it also encourages the patients to take up some techniques of controlling their appetites which contributes to better management of weight Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (2006).As the procedure inflicts less complications on the patients lap band surgery becomes the most suitable weight control procedure and those who have tried all the other procedures should be encouraged to undergo this one. Consequently, its reversible nature makes it more convenient for the younger generation. After embracing the techniques associated with the procedure they are able to turn a new leaf in their lives hence the request for the band to be extracted Allergan (2008).
Recommendations
Obese patients should be encouraged to take the surgical operation as a form of therapy rather than as a solution on its own. This creates a more positive ideology about the whole process such that at the beginning of the process when weight loss is minimal, the patients should be encouraged to keep moving as well as to remain disciplined in the set rules so as to create a conducive environment for the body to adapt to the new lifestyle.
References
Allergan (2008), laparoscopic gastric banding surgery. Retrieved on June 3, 2010 from: www.lapband.com.au/
Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (2006), Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for weight loss in obese adults: Clinical and Economic Review. Retrieved on June 3, 2010 from: www.canadain.gov.com
Fielding, C.R. (2010), Consumer guide to bariastric surgery. Retrieved on June 3, 2010 from: www.lapband.us/
The International Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery Team (2010), laparoscopic gastric band procedure. Retrieved on June 3, 2010 from: www.obesitylapbandsurgery.com/tecmain.htm
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2009), LAP-BAND adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) system. Retrieved on June 3, 2010 from: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh-docs/pdf/p000008a.pdf.
Is this your assignment or some part of it?
We can do it for you! Click to Order!
