Obesity, one of the leading diseases of the modern age which, if left untreated, adversely affects almost every organ of the body, continues to grow as an epidemic… When weight loss through diet, exercise and medications used under physician supervision proves insufficient, interventional and surgical methods play a very important role in treating the disease.
We learned about interventional and surgical methods for obesity treatment from the specialists of the Gastroenterohepatology Department and the General Surgery Department of Hisar Hospital Intercontinental.
The specialists, who noted that the intragastric balloon is at the forefront of the interventional methods tried before surgical intervention, stated: "Its side effects are extremely rare, and since the intragastric balloon, which is also very effective in weight loss, can be placed during the endoscopy examination, it is one of the methods most preferred by our patients receiving obesity treatment."
You Can Have an Intragastric Balloon Placed During the Endoscopy Procedure…
The intragastric balloon is a silicone balloon placed into the stomach via endoscopy while the patient is asleep, during a regular endoscopy session. Its side effects are extremely rare, and it is also a very effective method for weight loss. The aim of the intragastric balloon is to reduce food intake and the amount eaten by creating a feeling of fullness in the stomach. The balloon inside the stomach is inflated with approximately 500–700 cc of air or physiological saline. The balloon is left in the stomach and the endoscopy procedure is concluded. The intragastric balloon remains in the stomach for 6 months to 1 year. Some balloons are manufactured as adjustable. Depending on our patient's condition, we can inflate or deflate it. On average, it provides a weight loss of 10–40 kg. Nausea and vomiting may occur during the first few days after the balloon is placed. This is controlled with medication. Among very rare side effects are deflation of the balloon and intestinal obstruction; however, this risk has been eliminated in balloons produced with newer systems. When the balloon deflates, it remains in the stomach but does not cause intestinal obstruction. Removal of the balloon 6–12 months later is also performed via endoscopy under sedation.
For patients who prefer not to undergo intragastric balloon placement, the specialists of the General Surgery Department at Hisar Hospital Intercontinental explained the surgical options and the methods applied when surgical options come into play.
Obesity surgery, whose main aim is also to reduce stomach volume, offers patients a much more comfortable recovery period than open surgery, as it is performed only through small incisions using laparoscopic surgery. We use three methods. These are:
Gastric Band (Stomach Band): With the adjustable silicone gastric band method, also known colloquially as a stomach clamp, a silicone band is placed at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach; with the help of this band, we reduce the patient's food intake. Since the gastric band applied by the laparoscopic method is performed through small incisions, the patient can return to daily life in a very short time and can lose 60–80% of their excess weight within 18–24 months. As long as there is no problem with the band, the risk of the patient regaining weight is negligible.
Gastric Sleeve: The aim is for the patient to feel full with very little food by reducing the volume of the stomach. For this purpose, a certain part of the stomach is removed surgically and a tube-shaped stomach is left behind. In addition, since the part of the stomach that secretes the hunger hormone is also removed, the patient does not experience hunger. Since only the amount of food taken is restricted and the absorption of food continues in the same way, the patient does not need to take vitamin and mineral supplements from outside. Since this operation performed by the laparoscopic method is carried out through small incisions, the patient can return to daily life in a very short time. After surgery, patients can easily feel satiated by eating small volumes, and after a while this turns into loss of appetite. Within a few years after surgery, 80–90% of excess weight can be lost.
Gastric Bypass: A small-volume stomach is created by bypassing a large part of the stomach and is sutured to the small intestine. In this way, the normal passage of food is prevented, creating a deliberate malabsorption. After this type of surgery, the patient is given the necessary vitamin and mineral supplementation and is enabled to return home within three to four days.
