Reviewed by Giselle G. Hamad, MD, FACS

Dr. Hamad is Assistant Professor of Surgery, Obesity Surgery, UPMC Weight Management Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Read the rest of this article »

TELL US ABOUT THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LEAD STAFF AT YOUR FACILITY.
The Metabolic Surgery Center at Baptist Hospital currently has four surgeons, four nurses, and 11 staff members. Surgeons include Albert T. Spaw, MD, and Charles E. Morton, III, MD, who serve as co-medical directors, and George B. Lynch, MD, and James G. McDowell, Jr., MD. Each surgeon has a nurse who practices with them out of the center. The center is led by Director of Bariatric Services, Cylinda V. Phillips, RN, MBA, who is responsible for operations of the practice, strategic planning, business development, marketing, community outreach, patient education, consultation, and support group facilitation.

Read the rest of this article »

Manish Parikh, MD; and Michel Gagner, MD, FRCSC, FACS

Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida

Objective. To report preliminary outcomes after laparoscopic conversion of gastric bypass to biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch for weight loss failure.
Design. Retrospective chart review.
Setting. Academic tertiary referral center.
Participants. Twelve patients with weight loss failure after gastric bypass.
Measurements. Age, body mass index, excess weight loss, type of primary gastric bypass, type of revision procedure performed (if applicable), method of gastrogastrostomy, intraoperative and perioperative data, and morbidity and mortality rates.
Results. All patients lost dramatic weight after conversion to duodenal switch: Mean excess weight loss (EWL) was 63 percent at 11 months, representing an average
11-point BMI decrease. There were no mortalities or leaks. Stricture at the gastrogastrostomy was the most frequent complication, which was usually amenable to endoscopic dilation.
Conclusions. Laparoscopic conversion to duodenal switch from failed gastric bypass is highly effective with an acceptable morbidity

Read the rest of this article »