Obesity is a rapidly increasing epidemic—more than one-third of the
adult population in our country is obese. This serious condition leads
to additional health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and
stroke. If left untreated, obesity can be fatal.
Higher medical costs are another cause for concern regarding obesity. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state medical costs for obese
patients are approximately $1,500 higher than for patients of average weight.
Call Shannon at
325.747.2344 today to learn more about your options for weight loss surgery in San Angelo.
Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is a tool to help patients with obesity with their battle
to regain control of their health. Sleeve gastrectomy, a type of bariatric
surgery offered nationwide, is now available via the Shannon Weight Loss Center.
The goal of bariatric surgery is to reduce the patient's caloric intake
and curb hunger. The sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive procedure that
narrows the size of the stomach, causing you to consume fewer calories.
The operation removes the receptors that trigger hunger which causes the
appetite to decrease. National standards are used to determine if a patient
qualifies for surgery.
The Process
Bariatric surgery is a permanent change to the body and our Bariatric team
must make sure patients are mentally and physically capable of tolerating
the procedure. The professionals at the Weight Loss Center follow patients
pre- and post-operatively. Prior to the operation, patients will have
a tailored pre-op clearance plan.
Patients should expect to lose 60 to 70 percent of their excess body weight
after the sleeve gastrectomy procedure. How quickly the weight is lost
varies for each patient. They may be able to stop taking medications and
reverse conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
Surgery is only one part of a patient's weight-loss journey. The doctors
make sure the operation is a success from the operation standpoint, but
the patient plays a crucial role in having a successful outcome. They
have to adhere to a diet and exercise regimen.
Patients are given a bariatric manual that offers an in-depth look into
the operation itself, including pre- and post-operative care required,
dietary plans, medications, exercise, and foods to avoid.
MBSAQIP Accreditation
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic
and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) combined their respective national bariatric
surgery accreditation programs into a single unified program to achieve
one national accreditation standard for bariatric surgery centers, the
Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement
Program (MBSAQIP).
MBSAQIP works to advance safe, high-quality care for bariatric surgical
patients through the accreditation of bariatric surgical centers. A bariatric
surgical center achieves accreditation following a rigorous review process
during which it proves that it can maintain certain physical resources,
human resources, and standards of practice. All accredited centers report
their outcomes to the MBSAQIP database.
Blue Distinction Center For Bariatric Surgery
Shannon is proud to be recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas with
a Blue Distinction® Centers+ for Bariatric Surgery designation, as
part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction
Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities that show a commitment
to delivering high-quality patient safety and better health outcomes,
based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical
community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.
The Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery program provides a full
range of bariatric surgery care, including surgical care, post-operative
care, outpatient follow-up care, and patient education.
Bariatric surgeries are among the most common elective surgeries in the
U.S. — with more than 252,000 bariatric surgeries performed in 2018
based on a report from the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric
Surgery (ASMBS). Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) estimates that nearly 42.7 percent of U.S. adults and 18.5 percent
of youth are obese and are impacted by obesity-related health conditions.
With obesity reaching epidemic levels among U.S. adults, a significant
opportunity exists to improve quality care for bariatric surgeries within
the national healthcare system.
To receive a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Bariatric Surgery designation,
a healthcare facility must demonstrate success in meeting patient safety
measures as well as bariatric-specific quality measures, including complication
and readmission rate for laparoscopic procedures in sleeve gastrectomy,
gastric bypass, and adjustable gastric band. All designated facilities
must also be nationally accredited at both the facility and bariatric
program-specific levels, as well as demonstrated cost-efficiency compared
to its peers. Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers+ are on
average 20 percent more cost-efficient in an episode of care compared
to other facilities.
Shannon is also designated as a Health Care Center of Excellence (HCCOE)
for Bariatric Surgery through BlueCross BlueShield of Texas. The HCCOE program is a designation program that identifies Texas hospitals
in the Blue Essentials network that have demonstrated they deliver quality
specialty care in a safe, effective and cost-efficient manner. This program
was designed to guide consumers in finding quality and value for their
specialty care needs. It is also committed to providing both consumers
and physicians with increased transparency on provider quality and cost.
Health Care Centers of Excellence are evaluated using industry standard
quality metrics, specific to each clinical and/or surgical program. Specialty
Care Facilities must achieve this Center of Excellence designation by
first passing the rigorous, evidence-based selection criteria established
in collaboration with leading medical specialists and societies, and consider
those factors that impact care and cost, including:
The expertise of the medical team
The number of times the facility has performed the procedure
The facility's track record on quality, safety, and efficiency
Office Visits
The initial visit may be a class that will cover if you qualify for bariatric surgery:
Discuss options and formulate plan
Referred to our registered dietitian, GI department, and psychologist
Meet with our Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to discuss sleeve
gastrectomy to include preoperative workup, procedure, possible complications,
expected results, and how to begin preparing for surgery.
Second Visit:
Meet with Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to address any medical
conditions you have and what diagnostic testing will need to be ordered
prior to surgery
Discuss lifestyle modifications to prepare for surgery
Referral appointments needed will be discussed
Third Visit:
We will review the results of any lab and diagnostic tests
Ensure you’re staying on track with preoperative workup
Discussed preoperative diet, preoperative medications, what to expect the
day of surgery and postoperative medications
Fourth Visit:
Meet with Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to discuss postoperative
diet and supplementation following surgery
You will not be scheduled for surgery until we have received approval from
your insurance company
Last Visit:
Meet with surgeon for pre-operative visit
The surgeon will be able to review the procedure, answer questions, and
ensure you’re ready for surgery.
Benefits
Average of 66% excess weight loss at 3 years
Our program average is 55% in 6 months
Average waist circumference lost within 6 months post-procedure is 10 inches
for males and 8-9 inches for females
The average Hemoglobin A1c before surgery was 7.1. After 1 year post procedure,
the average decreased to 5.5
No significant changes in digestive process
Cannot be reversed although it can be converted to other procedure
Possible Complications
Gastric leak from staple line
Ulcers
Dyspepsia (indigestion)
Esophageal Dysmotility
Fistula (abnormal connections)
Pulmonary embolism (blood clots in lung)
Delayed gastric emptying
Splenic injury
Stricture (narrowing)
Late Choledocholithiasis (gallstones)
Nutritional deficiencies
Post-Operative Management
After surgery, you will discharge home the same day
Meds: Prevacid, Vitamin Patch, Gabapentin, Celebrex, Eliquis, Zofran and
other medications prescribed as needed
Clear liquids first 48 hours, full liquids next two weeks, and slow progression
to solid foods as directed
Return to work in 1-2 weeks
No heavy lifting (over 30lbs) for 4-6 weeks
No strenuous activity for 4 weeks
Vitamin and nutrient supplementation
Long-Term Follow Up
Follow-up appointments and laboratory studies are important to your long-term success
You will have appointments schedules for 10-14 days, 6 weeks, 3 months,
6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 18 months, 24 months, then yearly thereafter
For more information on San Angelo weight loss surgery or to schedule an
appointment, please call our program coordinator at
325.747.2344 or reach out to us online.
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