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CANDIDATES FOR GASTRIC
BYPASS
SURGERY
The
following are some basic criteria and individual
factors to help determine if a patient qualifies for a
weight loss surgical procedure:
- Age: Patients are
usually be between 18 and 60 years of age
- Weight: Weight of
100 lb. over normal for their height or
BMI >
35, if medically indicated
- Body Mass Index: must be in the range of 40-60
or 35-39 with life threatening co-morbidities.
- Primary Surgery: Revision surgery will not be
approved.
- Patient must have
documented support of their immediate family
- Patient must
document commitment to participate in
postoperative exercise and follow up program
- Primary Care Physician (PCP): each candidate
must have a primary care physician, a physician
who practices in the community in which the
prospective patient resides. That primary care
physician must perform a physical examination on
the prospective candidate for weight loss
surgery, and provide written verification of (1)
the examination and findings; (2) that the
prospective candidate is medically stable and
able to withstand surgery, and (3) agree to
provide follow-up care after the
weight loss
surgery.
- No history of drug
use or alcohol abuse
- No history of major
psychiatric illness
- Psychological Preparation: If the prospective
candidate is under the care of a mental health
professional, that professional must provide
written verification that (1) he/she is treating
the prospective candidate; (2) agreement that
weight loss surgery is appropriate for the
prospective candidate. If your surgeon so
orders, each prospective candidate must pass a
standard psychological screening test, which
will then be administered, online.
- Pre-Operative Testing: If your surgeon so
orders, each prospective candidate must timely
complete testing and pre-operative assignments,
which will then be administered, online.
- You must have a
complete understanding of this
procedure, the
risks and life long changes in eating habits.
Individuals who do not meet the
above criteria, or who may meet certain criteria,
but in the opinion of the physicians who you have
chosen, may not be candidates for weight loss
surgery, are referred to the non-surgical weight
loss components, for direction.
Ability to comply with therapy
A
prospective candidate must have the objectivity to
evaluate his/her ability for self discipline. That
same evaluation will be made by the surgeon you
choose, because compliance with the surgeons'
post-operative instructions is essential. Weight
loss, post-operatively, will only occur if diet
and exercise instructions are followed. As an
example, if Vertical Gastric Band surgery is
performed, the surgical procedure creates a small
pouch. Failure to follow diet instructions can
interrupt the integrity of the surgical pouch,
causing complications. See the link to Gastric
Bypass Diet, for additional information.
Other
medical conditions
Some people who
are morbidly obese are extremely ill as a result
of their obesity. In these individuals, the excess
weight has caused significant and permanent damage
to one or more organ systems. The most commonly
affected organs are the lungs (sleep apnea and GE
Reflux), the heart (congestive failure or coronary
artery disease), and the kidneys (damage from
diabetes or high blood pressure). Major medical
problems like these increase the risk of any major
surgical procedure including bariatric surgery,
but they also strengthen the need for weight loss.
In other words, significant medical problems
require careful consideration, but do not
necessarily contraindicate surgery.
Age
appropriateness
Surgical candidates
at the extremes of the age spectrum also require
extra consideration to evaluate the
appropriateness of surgery. Patients who are older
than their 50's may be starting to lose some of
the body's natural "reserve" and may be at
higher-than-average risk for the surgery. It is
interesting to note that not many people over 65
meet the weight criteria for bariatric surgery,
probably because it is hard to be that heavy and
live that long. On the young side of the age
spectrum, the concern is not medical risk but more
a question of whether the individual can really
understand what they are getting into. Young
people who suffer from morbid obesity must
demonstrate exceptional maturity and independent
thought to become good candidates for a bariatric
surgical procedure.
Give
full consideration
It is important
that you secure information about the options to
weight loss surgery, the potential complications
of this type of surgery, post-operative
requirements and the permanent effects of the
surgery on your life. The decision to undergo
weight loss surgery is a very serious one. Confer
with and question your primary care physician,
mental health professional, and if you choose a
surgeon, secure a full understanding of what is
involved and expected of you should you qualify as
a candidate for weight loss surgery. You can start
with links to additional information provided on
this Web site.
Home l
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Benefits of Surgery
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Gastric Bypass l
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Before and
After Photos l
Physicians &
Surgeons
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Understanding
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Obesity Health Risks
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