Mini-Gastric Bypass Surgery Proves Effective Over More Invasive Alternative

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*Mini-Gastric Bypass Surgery Proves Effective Over More Invasive

Alternative*

As more people look to weight loss surgery to address their expanding

waist lines, new research suggests that the best way to drop a few dress

sizes is to opt for the mini - as in mini-gastric bypass surgery.

The research, published in Elsevier's International Journal of Surgery,

studied patients who underwent mini-gastric bypass surgery, or MGB, and

assessed their pre- and post-hospitalization needs. The results were

compared with the findings of recent research into patients of a more

invasive bypass surgery, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RNY).

Findings from the RNY research reflected a spike in increased hospital

admission after the first year of the surgery. While the increase can

partly be attributed to elected procedures like plastic surgery, knee

replacements and disk procedures for RNY post-op patients, the majority

of admissions were for RNY-related complications.

Alternatively, the rates of hospitalization after MGB drop dramatically,

and the surgery itself is shorter, safer and easier to perform than the

RNY. The MGB patients who underwent surgery between January 2000 and

June 2005 in the United States and who participated in the survey did of

course cite some post-op problems such as renal stone disease and

Cholecystectomy, but overall the complications were relatively small.

Dr Rutledge lead author of the study said " Bariatric surgery

although valuable can have major risks and complications. Recent

studies have shown complications and hospitalization rates of 20% per

year for three years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. If the result of

this study are confirmed, showing lower risk of complications and

re-hospitalization after the Mini-Gastric bypass, then patients and

insurers may have access to a safer and less expensive alternative. "

Beyond the comparison to the RNY procedure, MGB patients also saw a

decrease in their hospitalization rates after the MGB when compared to

pre-MGB hospitalization rates. So as people continue to look for the

quick fix to cut the pounds, the big operation may not result in the

biggest results. Sometimes the best rewards come in small - or in this

case - " mini " packages.

*Contacts:*

* Dr Rutledge, Center for Excellence in Laparoscopic Obesity

Surgery, 98 E Lake Mead PKWY Ste 302, , NV 89052, USA.

drr@... <mailto:drr@...>

* For further information and copies of the full paper please e-mail:

pressoffice@... <mailto:pressoffice@...>

or telephone +44 (0) 207 754 5402

Please remember to credit the *International Journal of Surgery* as the

source and to tell your readers that they can read its full text at

www.journal-surgery.com <http://www.journal-surgery.com/> (articles in

press section).

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