Tuesday, March 20, 2012

How To Minimize The Chances Of Experiencing Bariatric Surgery Complications

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AppId is over the quota

Along with every other type of surgery, there is a risk of a patient experiencing complications either during or after bariatric surgery. The risk of experiencing complications depends on a number of factors, according to Dr. Steinbrook in his 2004 article Surgery for Severe Obesity in the New England Journal of Medicine: "The level of risk is related to the specific procedure and the patient's age, degree of obesity, and other medical conditions"

But there are ways to reduce the chances of experiencing complications. Ideally, all of the methods outlined here should be used in combination with each other.

Lose Weight before Surgery

The more fat a patient has on their body, the harder it is for the surgeon to work effectively because his view may be obscured by the fat of the patient. Using conventional surgical tools may also be difficult. However, sometimes this isn't viable for patients who are undergoing surgery so they are able to lose weight in a natural way.

Support System

Complications can appear immediately after surgery or years after the surgery. It's important to protect against mental complications because some patients will experience difficulties when it comes to coping with their new digestive system. Sometimes, the shock of suddenly being unable to eat as much food as before can often be too much for some patients who undergo bariatric surgery. An ideal support system will consist of both family and friends, however in more extreme cases counseling should be sought.

Thinning the Blood

Surgeries where the patient is immobilized for an extended period of time can mean that deep vein thrombosis, or even a pulmonary embolism, can develop. The risk of this occurring is increased if the patient has experienced it before or has high blood pressure. In this case, the surgeon should be notified before the procedure so the blood can be thinned via a medicine such as heparin. This will significantly reduce the chances of the patient suffering from any of these complications.

Compression Stockings and Pneumatic Devices

Leading on from the last tip, there is just as much risk of a patient suffering from a blood clot even after the surgery has been carried out. In most cases, the best way to solve this problem is to simply exercise, but if this isn't possible then a compression stocking or pneumatic device should be used to maintain the normal rate of blood flow. This will dramatically reduce the chances of a patient suffering from either of these complications because, according to A. Dilks and J. Green in their 2005 article The Use and Benefits of Compression Stocking Aids for the Nursing Times: "They apply graduated pressure to the legs to help improve venous return."

The cost of bariatric surgery in the West is continuing to increase, but it's possible to undergo lap band surgery in Mexico instead. But, understandably, some patients can't travel outside of their own country so there are some highly-skilled surgeons available for patients who want to undergo a procedure to obtain a gastric band in Las Vegas too.

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