Thousands of obese Americans risk their lives every year for a chance to have a healthier body.
The elective surgery?s mortality rates are highly dependent upon the number of times a physician has performed the operation, according to Dr. Mark Kligman, head of bariatric surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center?s Weight Management & Wellness Center.
“Experience has played a role in outcomes in mortality rates, obesity?s morbidity rate, and short- and long-term weight loss. Half of my practice is providing information to patients so that they can make reasonable choices. Patients need to research and know who they?re going to,” Kligman said.
Since 1999, the Baltimore surgeon has performed more than 600 bariatric procedures. According to Kligman, the chance of a major complication or dying is much lower than upfront risks of being obese. “For patients who are not willing to take that bet, it?s not time to do it [undergo surgery],” he said.
Bariatric procedures are divided into two categories. Gastric bypass is a restrictive approach that makes the stomach smaller to limit the amount of food intake. Malabsorptive techniques reduce the amount of the intestine that comes into contact with food so that the body cannot fully absorb calories.
For bariatric patients, the complications such as bowel obstruction, gastrointestinal dysfunction and hernia are worth having over being obese. Obesity often causes or worsens life-threatening conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
“Before surgery, I couldn?t get on an airplane or even go to a movie. I couldn?t even walk and chew bubble gum at the same time. I was immobile,” said Micki Popp, who underwent gastric bypass surgery in April 2002 at Sinai Hospital.
Gastric bypass saved the Linthicum resident?s life, Popp said. “During the surgery, they learned I had liver disease and adhesions. If I didn?t have surgery, I wouldn?t have known until it was too late.”
Gastric bypass is the most popular of all bariatric surgeries. Two-thirds of patients choose the $25,000 procedure over other surgical weight loss methods according to Kligman.
