Obesity surgery

The endogastric balloon technique is a simple endoscopic method: an empty silicon balloon is placed in the gastric cavity an filled up with saline. After six to eight months the balloon is removed due to the acid medium of the internal gastric cavity. The method’s principle consist mainly in the reduction of the gastric cavity but also important is the patient’s sensation of a full stomach, reducing thus – hungry sensations - the need of permanent feeding. (Without being a surgical method this technique represents in many cases the first step needed before major bariatric surgical solutions.

Gastric banding is a surgical laparoscopic procedure. Basically a silicon band – strap – is placed around the superior part of the stomach delimitating two cavities, a small superior one and a bigger inferior chamber. Between the two is a small caliber passage. The first one is the new stomach in witch the digestion take place and the second one is only for passage. In this way the quantity of solid food ingested in one meal is considerably reduced. (The liquids are not affected by the narrow passage and this is the main weak point of the method.)

Sleeve gastrectomy is also a surgical laparoscopic technique through which a part of the stomach is permanently removed, reducing the gastric cavity from a pouch to a tube, this way lowering significantly the food intake at one meal.

Gastric by-pass operation is, again, a laparoscopic technique. In this case a new communication is made between the stomach and the small intestine, shortening the gastric digestion time and the food exposure to the digestive secretions. The absorption phase is also reduced.

There are also more complex surgical techniques like biliopancreatic diversion or the partial enterectomy (partial removal of small intestine), but this procedures are reserved to extremely obese patients and need extra care in indications and performing.