Bariatrics

Videos

Laparoscopic Surgery for Weight Loss: Robotic Assistance in Bariatric Surgery

Transcript

Amjad Ali, MD
Co-Director, Bariatric Surgery Center
UPMC Hamot

The da Vinci robot provides a three-dimensional, very high-resolution image of the laparoscopic field. The laparoscopic instruments used for the da Vinci robot have multiple joints, making them more flexible than the human wrist, which improves the precision of laparoscopic procedures and makes the operations easier on the surgical team. Patients enjoy the benefit of less pain and less trauma to the abdominal wall and reduced incidents of major complications like bleeding and leakage.

Who is Eligible

Any patient undergoing laparoscopic surgery could benefit from the use of the da Vinci robot, but it is particularly helpful for patients who are undergoing complex laparoscopic procedures like gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, and it is especially helpful for those who are challenging surgical candidates due to having a larger body mass index or previous bariatric surgery that left scar tissue behind. The use of robots will make the operation more precise.

Patient Communications

UPMC Hamot's Bariatric Program is a comprehensive program. Patients receive a lot of preoperative education, preparation, and counseling. They are taken care of by experienced health care professionals while they are here, and, for their long-term success, we offer bariatric support meetings to help them through the process of weight loss surgery.

Partner for Life Changing Surgery

UPMC Hamot is a comprehensive bariatric program. It has been in existence since 2003, it is a very high volume bariatric program; our surgeons are very experienced, board certified, and members of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. We are a Center of Excellence designated by Surgical Review Corporation. That means we meet very strict criteria, including regular onsite inspections, reporting our quality outcomes, and having a very low incidence of major complications. We are your partner through all aspects of this life changing surgery.

For more information, contact us at 814-877-6997.

Weight Loss Surgery: Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

Transcript

Rodolfo Arreola, MD
Co-Director, Bariatric Surgery Center
UPMC Hamot

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy is a process where you create a tube out of the existing stomach. You remove the outer portion of the stomach and, in the process of doing that, you remove an area where some of the hunger hormone, ghrelin, is produced; this will give you appetite suppression.

Qualification Process

The process starts with a seminar, where a small group of patients are brought together and presented with the information about the various operations that we perform. We talk about the risks and the benefits of each operation, as well as the expected weight loss, and answer any questions the patients may have. Patients from there meet with the dietitian on more than one occasion. All the patients are required to undergo a psychological evaluation, as well as a nutritional evaluation. We do see the patients one-on-one, at which time we go over the patient's medical problems, the reasons for wanting the operation, and finally what operation would best be suited for them.

Benefits of Sleeve Gastrectomy

With the sleeve gastrectomy, what you've done is created a tube out of the existing stomach. Now this functions as a normal stomach. You haven't done any manipulation to the enervation of the stomach that's left. You do no manipulation of the small intestine; you're still going to absorb things the way you did prior to this operation. This allows you to eat a small portion of food and then feel full; you can essentially eat most foods you could prior to the operation. You can take medications without fear of malabsorption (medications you were taking before the operation) and it's not an operation that's prone to ulcers as some of the operations might be.

Center of Excellence

The bariatric program here at UPMC Hamot has been around since 2003. We've performed over 2,000 operations for weight reduction. The surgeons here have a combined experience of over 20 years performing operations for weight reduction. We are a Center of Excellence that's been designated by the American Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Diseases. We have a comprehensive center and a dedicated team that will see you through the process, through the operation, and also through follow-up. Our goal is to follow up with everyone on a lifelong basis.