Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band: Everything You Need to Know Before and After Surgery to Lose Weight Successfully

449 Pages·2008·6.17 MB·English

by  Robert Sewell M.D. M.D.

Weight-Loss Surgery
with the Adjustable
Gastric Band
ROBERT W. SEWELL, M.D., F.A.C.S., is an award-winning laparoscopic
surgeon. His articles have been published in numerous medical journals
and professional books, and he is a frequent speaker at medical
conferences. Dr. Sewell has taught laparoscopic techniques all over the
world, and he has over 300 AGB patients. He lives outside Dallas, Texas.
LINDA ROHRBOUGH is a best-selling author and patient of Dr. Sewell's.
Rohrbough received a LAP-BAN' in early 2004 and has subsequently lost
136 pounds. She lives outside Dallas, Texas.
Weight-Loss Surgery
with the Adjustable
Gastric Band
Everything You Need to Know
Before and After Surgery
to Lose Weight Successfully
Robert W. Sewell, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Linda Rohrbough

Contents
Preface, ix
Introduction-How We Got Here, xi SECTION 1
OBESITY IN OUR CULTURE • 1
1 Obesity-The Great American Health Problem 3
2 Why Dieting and Exercise Don't Work 11
SECTION 2
CAUSES AND TREATMENTS OF OBESITY • 19
3 How the Digestive System Functions 21
The Digestive System, 22
Summary, 28
4 Bariatric Surgery-Past and Present 29
Obesity as a Disease, 30
Drugs Used to Treat Obesity, 31
Surgical Treatments, 32
The Problem with Any Surgical "Solution", 43
SECTION 3
THE ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BAND (AGB) IS NOT GASTRIC BYPASS •
45
5 How the AGB Functions 47
Overview of the AGB's Function, 47
Is the Adjustable Gastric Band Really Bariatric Surgery?, 56
Using the AGB as a Behavior Modification Tool, 58
Summary, 59
6 Who Is a Candidate for the AGB? 61
Coming to a Crossroads-Treating Obesity as a Disease, 61
The Initial Evaluation, 64
The Surgical Assessment, 65
Potential Road Blocks, 66
The Psychological Assessment, 71
The Dietitian's Assessment, 75
The Exercise Physiologist's Assessment, 77
Conclusion, 81
7 What Does a Comprehensive AGB Program Look Like? 83
Do I Really Need a Weight Management Program?, 84
Nutritional Support, 88
An Exercise Program, 90
Changing How You Think, 91
Summary of a Comprehensive Program, 94
SECTION 4
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF THE AGB • 95
8 What to Expect before Surgery 97
Pre-op Testing, 97
The Pre-op Diet, 99
Just before Surgery, 102
The Day of Surgery, 106
Anesthesia, 110
9 What to Expect after Surgery 113
Immediately after Surger, 113
The Hospital Stay, 115
Going Home, 120
Medication Needs, 122
Returning to Normal Activity; 124
Conclusion, 127
10 Adjustments (Fills) and Eating Strategies 129
The First Few Weeks Post-op, 129
Ten Rules for Eating with the Adjustable Gastric Band, 131
How Adjustments (or Fills) Are Accomplished, 131
How Much Fill Do You Need?, 134
Can You Lose Your "Sweet Spot"?, 137
Eating Strategies, 138
Choosing Foods for Success, 143
`Iuhing in Fluids, 147
Conclusion, 149
11 The Health Benefits of the AGB and
Weight Loss 151
Factors That Influence the Improvement of Your Health, 151
Improvement in Diabetes, 152
Improvement in Hypertension (The Silent hiller), 157
Improvement in Sleep Apnea (The Thief in the Night), 159
Improvement in the Painful Load, 161
Improvement in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), 165
Obesity Is Misunderstood, 167
12 Managing Potential Complications 169
Introduction, 169
Intraoperative Complications, 170
Postoperative Complications, 171
Problems following an Adjustment (Fill), 172