Bariatric surgery: Another name for weight loss surgery designed to treat the morbidly obese. Originate from the Greek word baros meaning weight.
BMI: Body Mass Index. An individual s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his or her height in meters. A measure used to indicate how obese an individual is.
Dumping syndrome: Commonly occurs in patients who overindulge on sugar and carbohydrates after a gastric bypass surgery. The food passes too quickly from the stomach to the intestine and causes nausea, sweating, vomiting, and fainting. Often known as the post-op police officer since it discourages people from overeating and helps them lose weight.
Gastric banding: A type of bariatric surgery in which a silicone band is placed around the upper portion of the stomach to create a small stomach pouch. This reduces the amount of food the patient can eat and encourages weight loss.
Gastric bypass: Also known as RNY or Roux-en Y Gastric Bypass. This is the bariatric surgery most commonly performed and is considered the gold standard. A small stomach pouch is created by banding, and then a Y shaped limb of the intestine used to connect it to the intestine. Encourages weight loss using restriction and malabsorption.
Incentive spirometry: A small snorkel like plastic instrument with a long tube attached to it. Used to suck air and exercise the lungs. Helps in avoiding pneumonia post surgery.
Laproscopy: A surgery performed using special instruments and viewed through laproscopes. The surgery requires only small incisions of 1/4-1/2 inch, instead of the usual 6-8 inch incision.
Malabsorptive procedure: Weight loss surgeries that bypass a portion of the intestine by creating a direct connection from the stomach to the lower portion of the intestine. The food then comes in contact with a smaller portion of the intestine. Thus, fewer calories are absorbed into the body, resulting in weight loss.
Morbidly obese: An individual who is 50-100% or 100 pounds over his ideal body weight. A BMI of 40 and above is also considered morbidly obese.
Open surgery: A surgery performed by making a long incision in the abdominal wall and using traditional surgical incisions. In obese patients these incisions are at a higher risk of getting infected or causing hernias.
Restrictive procedure: Weight loss surgeries that decrease the size of the stomach by creating a small stomach pouch. The individual can eat only smaller portions and hence loses weight.
Vertical banded gastroplasty: A restrictive weight loss surgery in which a vertical section of the stomach is banded off using staples and elastic silicone bands to create a small stomach pouch.
