Our Bariatric & General Surgery Blog
Fear Before Bariatric Surgery
Fear before a bariatric surgery procedure is a very natural and normal reaction to the unknown. After all, bariatric surgery is a major procedure with both benefits and risks that need to be evaluated carefully. Further, most patients have lived with their obesity problem and related diseases for years, decades, or even their entire lives – the prospect of an entirely new lifestyle can be very daunting. It is when fear becomes paralyzing, that it can cause serious trouble. This paralysis can come in the form of putting off a life-changing procedure like bariatric surgery or neglecting to make the difficult lifestyle decisions that are required of all of our patients after surgery.
Simple Ideas to Avoid Letting Weather Spoil Your Fitness Routine
You and your outdoor exercise routine are unstoppable, except on rainy days. And then comes cold weather, and again you’re sitting it out on the sidelines. But don’t despair. Even during the winter months or on rainy days, you can stay active without getting cold or waterlogged. Dress in layers that can be easily added or removed as needed. Choose sturdy shoes with a good tread and don’t forget to include hats, gloves, ear muffs or a water resistant jacket. Be prepared to change your path to avoid icy weather hazards. This winter instead of staying indoors and chilling out, you can get outside and stay fit.
Mortality Rates Significantly Less At Accredited Bariatric Centers
A new study from the journal Surgical Endoscopy, found that non-accredited bariatric centers had an in-hospital mortality rate that was more than three times higher than accredited centers (0.22% vs. 0.06%, respectively) with similar volume. This study comes after Medicare considers the discontinuation of Certification in Bariatric Surgery Facilities.
There have been other studies, such as a study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS) last year, that supports the new Surgical Endoscopy study showing almost identical differences in mortality between non- accredited and accredited academic bariatric centers (0.21% vs. 0.06%, respectively).
In 2006, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
decided to require certification for facilities that perform bariatric surgery on Medicare patients. The ASMBS (American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery) will submit the new study on accreditation along with other studies for CMS to review. CMS will have a final ruling expected by September 25, 2013.
Latest Bariatric Research Nov 2012
Karen Norowski, RN, Bariatric Coordinator, along with other members of the Bariatric Program, presented a poster titled, “Pulmonary Embolism After Bariatric Surgery: An Analysis of a Clinical Pathway in 1,584 Patients” at the annual scientific meeting of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in San Diego in June. This poster was coauthored by Collin Brathwaite, MD; Alex Barkan, MD; Keneth Hall, MD; Elizabeth Schledorn, MSN, RN; and Judith Thomas, MSN, RN, and was selected as a Poster of Distinction by the Program Committee. Collin Brathwaite, MD, Chief of the Division of Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery, presented two papers at the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity (IFSO) meeting in Barcelona, Spain, in May. The first was “Totally Robotic Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass With A Single-Docking Technique Using Four Robotic Arms is Feasible and Appropriate Even in the Super Super Morbidly Obese,” and was coauthored by Dr. Brathwaite, Barbara Brathwaite, MSN, RN, and Alexander Barkan, MD. The second presentation, “Hepatic Gluconeogenesis Is Not Involved In The Improvements In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus After Gastric Bypass In Rats,” was coauthored by Dr. Brathwaite, Ray Lau, MD; Keneth Hall, MD; Louis Ragolia, PhD; and Drew Rideout, MD.