Nowadays minimally invasive surgery, both laparoscopic and robotic, has multiple advantages compared to traditional open surgery:
- Less postoperative pain
- Lower risk of wound infections
- Lower incidence of abdominal scar hernias (incisional or eventrations).
- Fewer postoperative complications
- Shorter hospital stay
- Faster recovery
- Better cosmetic results.
In which cases should bariatric surgery be performed?
Laparoscopic bariatric/metabolic surgery should be considered in patients with:
- BMI greater than or equal to 40 kg/m2.
- BMI 35-39.9 kg/m2 with comorbidities that may improve with weight loss.
- BMI 30-34.9 kg/m2 and Diabetes Mellitus type 2.
How are the results of this intervention?
Bariatric surgery is the most appropriate and effective treatment for morbidly obese patients. It is capable of producing a significant and sustained weight loss over time superior to other treatments and a resolution or improvement of most of the associated comorbidities and quality of life, this being especially relevant in the case of diabetes (hence the term metabolic surgery) and respiratory pathology (OSAHS).
In terms of weight loss, the aim of surgery is a loss of between 50% and 70% of excess weight, although this figure is highly variable depending on age, surgical technique and the patient’s adherence to postoperative recommendations.
What care should the patient follow after surgery?
Technical and medical advances together with the minimally invasive approach mean that nowadays the rate of complications and mortality is very low, allowing patients to be hospitalized for 24-48 hours and to return to their routine life at an early stage (2-3 weeks).
In addition to the usual care after laparoscopic abdominal surgery, it is necessary to follow a diet that goes through several phases (liquid, semi-solid, semi-solid of progression and solid) and to exercise regularly.
It is not necessary to take any long-term medication, only a poly-vitamin-mineral preparation is recommended and, depending on the surgical technique, complementary vitamin supplementation may be necessary.
For more information, please contact a specialist of the Cantabria Surgery Unit.