Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center and renowned weight loss surgeon Dr. Alex Gandsas have announced the successful completion of a single port sleeve gastrectomy procedure that has resulted in a "scarless" surgery. Lourdes is thought to be the only hospital in New Jersey that has performed the sleeve gastrectomy procedure though the patient's belly button.
"This is a remarkable step toward significantly improving the cosmetic results for patients," says Gandsas, who was assisted during the surgery by Dr. Adeshola Fakulujo. "The belly button is the body's natural scar. By reducing the operative site to one single incision in the belly button, the scar is practically invisible."
A laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, which removes 75 percent of the stomach so that it looks like a sleeve, is traditionally performed through six incisions that range from .5 to 1.5 centimeters in diameter. These incisions allow the necessary surgical instruments to be inserted, as well as a special camera to view structures inside the abdomen. But with the single-port surgery, the same equipment is guided through just one incision in the belly button. Minimally invasive procedures are associated with shorter length of stay, less pain and quicker return to normal activity.
"The single-port technique is more technically challenging because of ergonomics," explains Gandsas, who is also the chair of the Department of Surgery at UMDNJ - School of Osteopathic Medicine. "Your instruments are working in one line. But with appropriate patient selection, and an experienced surgeon, outcomes are excellent. What's more, patients appreciate the cosmetic benefit of a virtually scarless procedure. In my experience, patients want fewer incisions with any surgery."
Candidates for the single-port sleeve gastrectomy procedure are those with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 to 45, and those who have an abdominal wall that has less thickness to it so that inserted instruments can move freely.
While the approach to the surgery differs from the traditional laparoscopic method, the sleeve gastrectomy procedure itself is still the same. Because of this, it still has the same benefits and risks for patients.
According to Gandsas, the benefits include the fact that sleeve gastrectomy is relatively successful, with patients losing about 40 to 50 percent of excess weight after three years. It's also a good alternative to standard gastric bypass, which may be too risky for some patients. Sleeve gastrectomy also does not affect the absorption of food, so nutritional deficiencies are not a problem. The drawbacks - sleeve gastrectomy is irreversible, and while rare, there is risk for infection, leaking of the sleeve and blood clots.
"Single port surgery itself is gaining popularity and many see a natural progression," adds Gandsas. "We are moving toward fewer incisions to reduce surgical impact. However, we still need randomized prospective studies looking at comparable outcomes between single-port sleeve gastrectomy and standard laparoscopy. These minimally invasive techniques are as a bridge as we push the envelope and refine our techniques to improve the patient experience."
Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County and Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center are designated Blue Distinction Centers® for Bariatric Surgery by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. HealthGrades, the nation's leading independent healthcare ratings organization, has given Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center a five-star rating for overall bariatric surgery two years in a row, ranked it number three in New Jersey for two consecutive years and awarded it the Bariatric Surgery Excellence Award™ in 2009.
Source:
Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center
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