One of the most popular kinds of obesity interventions today is stomach stapling. With this being a surgical procedure, people would be hesitant to go in for it without having complete information about it. Some of the frequently asked questions about stomach stapling, as well as their answers are attempted to be covered below –
What is stomach stapling and who are the candidates for the procedure?
Those people who are obese and who have significant health risks as a result of that obesity are likely candidates for stomach stapling, if they have tried all other forms of weight loss and failed to obtain satisfactory results.
This procedure involves an incision or cut being made in the abdomen, though which an area of the stomach is banded or stapled off, thereby creating a pouch of pocket of the stomach.
This effectively reduces the size of the stomach, letting a person eat only small quantities of food and thereby losing weight.
What are the different types of stomach stapling?
There are basically two types of stomach stapling – Open and Laparoscopic. The open type involves a large incision to be made in the abdomen, from the breast bone almost up to the navel.
In laparoscopic stomach stapling, several small incisions are made, and the procedure is performed endoscopically, using a video camera. The latter is less invasive and takes less time for recovery.
What are the chances of stomach stapling being an effective cure for obesity?
It is important to remember that stomach stapling is not the end all and be all answer to obesity. One also has to watch what and how one eats. Not chewing food properly or eating too fast can cause nausea. Some foods are contraindicated when one’s stomach is stapled.
Also continuing to eat fatty, sugary and unhealthy food will negate much of the impact of the surgery. The stomach is a stretchable muscle, and it could be that after some time, there could be a widening of the pouch created by the stomach stapling, causing the effects of the surgery to be negated.
What are the possible complications that could occur as a result of stomach stapling?
In rare cases, complications such as anastomotic leakage could occur, which one would do well to keep in mind. Also many experience what is known as the dumping syndrome after having undergone stomach stapling.
This happens when the food passes too quickly from the stomach to the small intestine, and which can result in unpleasant symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting, and also sweating and dizziness.
What are the long term impacts and the side effects of stomach stapling?
Many people who undergo a stapling procedure find that they have certain nutritional deficiencies, such as inadequate vitamins or minerals.
Many people develop intolerance to certain foods, which they are unable to digest. There could be other symptoms such as dehydration and low blood sugar that result from stomach stapling. There could also be bleeding ulcers, and gall and kidney stones that develop in rare cases.
