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Gastric bypass procedures (GBP) are any of a group of
similar operations used to treat morbid obesity—the severe accumulation of excess weight as fatty
tissue—and the health problems (comorbidities) it causes. Bariatric surgery is the term encompassing all of
the surgical treatments for morbid obesity, not just gastric
bypasses, which make up only one class of such operations.
A gastric bypass first divides the stomach into a small upper
pouch and a much larger, lower "remnant" pouch and then
re-arranges the small intestine to allow both pouches to stay
connected to it. Surgeons have developed several different ways
to reconnect the intestine, thus leading to several different
GBP names. Any GBP leads to a marked reduction in the functional
volume of the stomach, accompanied by an altered physiological
and psychological response to food. The resulting weight loss,
typically dramatic, markedly reduces comorbidities. The death
rate is reduced by up to 40%
Lap band surgery, or Adjustable gastric banding, is a
form of restrictive weight loss surgery (bariatrics)
designed for obesity patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater - or between 35 – 40
with those who have comorbidities that are known to improve with weight loss.
The gastric band is an inflatable silicone prosthetic device which is placed around the top portion of the stomach via
keyhole laparoscopic surgery.
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