Bariatric surgery is the surgical modification of the stomach, intestines, or both to cause weight loss.
Bariatric surgery is indicated for patients who have:
- Failed attempts at all non-surgical methods of weight reduction,
- Body mass index (BMI) > 40 kg/m2 or BMI > 35 kg/m2 and complications (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, high-risk blood lipid profile),
- Acceptable risk of surgical intervention,
- Sufficient awareness and motivation.
Bariatric surgery should be considered for patients with type II diabetes who have a BMI of 30 to 34.9 and whose blood glucose levels are not controlled despite adequate drug therapy and the most favorable lifestyle․
Contraindications to bariatric surgery are:
- Depression as a mental disorder,
- Drug addiction and alcoholism,
- Oncological diseases that are not in remission,
- Due to the inability to follow the necessary diet, the obligation to constant intake of vitamins,
- Other severe contraindications to surgical treatment.
Currently, Gasrtic Bypass Surgery is one of the effective and less complicated bariatric surgery methods, in which the surgeon connects the upper part of the stomach with the middle part of the small intestine during shunting of the gastrointestinal tract. The operation leads to a reduction of excess weight up to 70-80% due to the shortening of the path of the nutrients’ passage and the resulting reduced absorption of nutrients.
The method of bariatric surgery is chosen by the surgeon based on the data of the patient's clinical-laboratory, instrumental examinations and specialist consultations.