Nissen fundoplication

Hernia Repair

Colectomy

Cardiomyotomy
(Heller Myotomy)

Splenectomy

Cholecystectomy

Adrenalectomy

Gastric Bypass

Glossary

Members of
SAGES

The Society
of American
Gastrointestinal
Endoscopic
Surgeons

Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass

Laparoscopic gastric bypass is a state-of-the-art procedure that is highly effective for severely obese people. It is getting a lot of publicity as various celebrities -- Al Roker, Carrie Wilson -- have shared their experiences.

This procedure is very serious, life-altering surgery. It is only appropriate for select patients, and is done only after extensive evaluation and consultation.

The procedure involves reducing the size of the stomach to a one-ounce pouch (equivalent to the size of an egg). To perform the surgery, Dr.’s Tarnoff and Shikora make six small incisions to insert instruments and a minature camera. The surgery takes approximately two hours and most patients can be home in 2-3 days.

Long term analysis reveals that gastric bypass yields long term, durable weight loss in nearly 75% of patients. Success after gastric bypass is dependant on long-term behavioral and dietary modification.

The Obesity Consult Center

To qualify for gastric by-pass surgery, patients first must undergo extensive evaluation and treatment by various clinicians including internists, psychologists and nutritionists that part of The Obesity Consult Center (OCC) at Tufts Medical Center.

This center, formed in 1985, has served as the New England leader in the multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment of morbidly obese patients. It also offers an extensive network of support groups which provide long-term follow-up care for post operative patients.

In July, 2001, Dr.’s Shikora and Tarnoff formed the Center for Minimally Invasive Obesity Surgery, offering high-tech, state-of-the-art surgical care to OCC patients. Since that time, the surgeons have performed nearly 500 laparoscopic gastric bypass procedures and have gained national recognition for their efforts in patient care and surgical technique.

Further, the center has become a prominent international training center to which surgeons from around the world come to learn about the multidisciplinary model of care and the technical aspects of laparoscopic obesity surgery.

For more information, please see the Web site for the Obesity Consult Center.