Dr. Myers explains how Gastric Bypass Works

Monday, October 25, 2010

Diabetes May Double by 2050, Bariatric Surgery Can Help!



Front page news in the USA Today and the Columbus Dispatch newspapers this week reported the most recent CDC prediction for diabetes in America.

1). Diabetes may increase from the present rate if 1 in 10 to 1 in 3 persons over the next 40 years.
2). Presently there is about 200,000 diabetics in central Ohio
3). It is estimated that the number of diabetics in central Ohio will increase by 13,000 every 2 years




Most of the increase will be in Type II diabetes. Why?

1). Improved diabetic care is allowing diabetics to live longer
2). Earlier diagnosis
3). Growing minority populations
4). Increasing frequency of obesity

How can bariatric surgery help?

For those persons of size who develop type II diabetes, their diabetes is resolved 84% of the time after bariatric surgery. For those who were diagnosed with diabetes within the last 5 years the results are even better: 95% of patients will resolve their diabetes.

Although all bariatric operations can help to prevent diabetes, the best operation to resolve diabetes is a Roux en-Y Gastric Bypass. A Roux en-Y Gastric Bypass is the only operation that changes to patients hormonal situation to increase the amount of insulin the pancrease produces in response to carbohydrates.

Learn more about diabetes and bariatric surgery on other posts on this blog.

Our practice is available to help as many persons of size with diabetes who want to be helped.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Bariatric Surgery Decreases the Risk of Breast Cancer

A recent study showed that the risk of developing breast cancer over the 5 years after bariatric surgery is decreased by 80%.

Nicolas Christou at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada compared a group of bariatric surgery patients with a group of people of similar weight over a 5 year period of time.

Only 2% of those who chose bariatric surgery developed breast cancer over the subsequent 5 years compared to 8.5% of people of similar size that did not have bariatric surgery.

This is the first study that clearly shows the risk of developing breast cancer is decreased by 80% over the next 5 years after bariatric surgery.

Obesity increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Bariatric surgery can decrease the risk of developing this terrible cancer.

Results of the First Eleven Robot Assisted Gastric Bypass Operations at Fresh Start



Left: Dr. Myers, Right: Mike Palasek, CRNFA, Robot, named "Bow Tie" center





Over the last few weeks I have been privileged to several Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass operations. I am very pleased with the initial results and I would like to share them with those who follow this blog.



Number of operations performed 11

Converted to open operations 0

Number of incisions required 4, which is 1 or 2 incisions less (2 5 mm ports and 2 12 mm ports)

Total lentht of incisions decreased by 50%

Discharged day after operation 50%

The length of time required to perform the operation has improved from 3 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 20 minutes.


In addition, we have noted the patients have much less pain in the hospital and denies any pain at the 1 week visit.

One patient was rehospitalized for an infection not related to the robotic assistanc and they are improving nicely.

Overall patients are doing very well. I will keep you informed of further progress.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Early Results from Robotic Gastric Bypass Operation


“It’s amazing”, Robyn Blake told me in the office today. She is just one week from her robotically assisted laparoscopic Roux en-Y gastric bypass and she is thrilled with her results. ‘I only took one pain pill a day for the first 2 days after I was discharged from the hospital.”

“The results are not subtle,” Mike Palasek, CRNFA who assisted with each of these operations told me today. “The patients who had their operation robotically are having much less pain.”

We have now completed our first four robotically assisted gastric bypass operations. Both are doing very well. Two of these patients went home the day after their operation instead of two days later. The patients appear much more comfortable the day after the operation.

Overall I am very impressed with these very early results. There are only 4 incisions and these are smaller and healing well without a drain or staples.

I agree with Robyn, the results are amazing.