ACCOMPLISHED: Surgeon Samir Patel, M.D. of AtlantiCare Heart for Surgical Weight Loss and Wellness is predicated in Manahawkin. (Provided Photograph)
Because the AtlantiCare Surgical Weight Loss and Wellness Heart crew marks a milestone 20 years, they replicate on how far the idea and capabilities have come.
Surgeon Samir Patel, M.D. notes constructive well being adjustments have been achieved for hundreds of sufferers in that point – 6,360, to be precise.
“Again then, as now, certainly one of our most essential messages – one with which I start each dialog on the subject – is that surgical weight reduction is way more than a process to assist an individual ‘shed kilos and look nice,’” he mentioned. “Surgical weight reduction and wellness, when embraced and adopted as a life-style, will be a lot extra.
“As we’ve seen for thus many sufferers all through our service space, which incorporates the Manahawkin neighborhood, it turns into a strong software to enhance well being, psychological power and high quality of life,” mentioned Patel.
The surgeon has been primarily based within the middle in Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County, however will start working within the AtlantiCare Well being Park in Manahawkin in April.
When AtlantiCare’s Heart for Surgical Weight Loss and Wellness started providing bariatric – or weight reduction – surgical procedure in 2002, the middle was the primary within the area to introduce the therapy for morbid weight problems.
In the beginning of this system, gastric bypass by the title Roux-en-Y was provided; then in 2003, the middle started offering the Lap Band.
“Through the years, the sphere of bariatrics has developed with new know-how and developments in drugs. The gastric sleeve process launched in 2010 as a brand new restrictive bariatric possibility shortly gained reputation with sufferers changing the Lap Band,” Patel detailed. “By way of this process, we cut back the abdomen to be extra the form of a tube or banana. This process permits for higher absorption of vitamins. For people who qualify, AtlantiCare gives weight reduction surgical procedures laparoscopically, that’s, minimally invasively.”
In December 2020, AtlantiCare’s Heart for Surgical Weight Loss and Wellness skilled one other first within the area when surgeons carried out their first robotic weight-loss surgical procedure.
Since then, greater than 150 weight reduction surgical procedures have been carried out robotically. These embody the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and revision surgical procedure that features the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
“The da Vinci Robotic system arms permit our surgeons to make small, exact actions with minimal trauma to the belly wall, leading to much less postoperative ache, usually a shorter hospital keep and a quicker restoration,” Patel mentioned.
To qualify for surgical procedure, an individual will need to have a physique mass index better than 35 with an obesity-related comorbidity, or a BMI better than 40 with no extra comorbidities. The BMI is a measure that makes use of peak and weight to find out a wholesome weight.
“Nevertheless, for individuals who may not qualify for surgical procedure – or who do qualify however don’t wish to bear surgical procedure – our crew additionally gives a wide range of non-surgical therapy choices,” Patel added. “Like surgical procedure, the non-surgical method has developed over time and is predicated on the distinctive wants of a person.”
Publish-procedural care is a vital a part of the method. “As with different choices, the AtlantiCare crew method in these instances gives take care of a person of their journey to attain and keep a wholesome weight,” Patel identified.
Providers and help embody doctor/supplier guided care; registered dietitian counseling, dietary planning and schooling; and a three-month membership to the AtlantiCare LifeCenter with customized teaching and well being evaluations.
“Lastly, it’s essential to acknowledge the worth taking part in a surgical weight reduction and wellness program can present in relation to bettering obesity-related life-limiting and harmful well being points,” Patel advises sufferers. He listed main sickness dangers which have been lowered or eradicated.
“For instance, coming into our twentieth 12 months, our crew at AtlantiCare estimates that between 70% to 80% of our Heart for Surgical Weight Loss and Wellness sufferers who introduced with kind 2 diabetes and expertise profitable weight reduction additionally expertise remission of their diabetes.
“Different co-morbidities that may see enchancment embody hypertension (or hypertension), sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, coronary coronary heart illness, and/or gastroesophageal reflux illness. Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen our sufferers cut back or eradicate co-morbidities by way of their dedication to creating wholesome, lifelong adjustments.”
Patel mentioned, “Weight reduction is really a life-changing occasion. … We’re dedicated to guiding you in your journey lengthy after surgical procedure or participation in our medical administration program.”
Extra data will be discovered on the web site atlanticare.org or by calling the AtlantiCare Entry Heart at 1-888-569-1000. —M.S.
