Gastric Bypass Weighs in Against Gastric Pacemakers
A leading medical device manufacturer has announced that it will press on with attempts to develop a gastric pacemaker, which they hope will produce a feeling of satiation through the delivery of small electric currents that cause the stomach to contract. While the device has yet to succeed in clinical trails, the makers are continuing to explore this and other technologies to combat increasing rates of obesity.
SAN DIEGO, CA (PRWEB) May 26, 2006
A leading medical device manufacturer has announced that it will press on with attempts to develop a gastric pacemaker, which they hope will produce a feeling of satiation through the delivery of small electric currents that cause the stomach to contract. While the device has yet to succeed in clinical trails, the makers are continuing to explore this and other technologies to combat increasing rates of obesity.
While this technology may not currently be an available option for overweight or obese people, there are many other options. The most popular procedure is known as Roux-en-Y divided gastric bypass, which is widely accepted as the most effective surgical treatment available. Considered the gold standard to alleviate severe obesity, the procedure can be performed as an open or laparoscopic procedure. With either style, the stomach is divided into two sections. One of the two sections is a new, smaller pouch that will act as the new stomach. The new stomach has the capacity of roughly two ounces, as opposed to its former size of about two quarts. This drastic reduction limits your stomach’s ability to hold food, resulting in a feeling of fullness after eating only a small amount.
“We are committed to providing the best possible care and outcomes for our patients,” said George Zorn, M. D. “In our opinion, surgery the most effective tool to aid in the significant weight loss of clinically obese individuals.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 64 percent of adults aged 20 years or older are overweight or obese. As with any serious disease, curing it requires medical attention. In many cases, surgical treatment offers possibly the only effective long-term method of weight control. In fact, according to scientifically published reports, in 95 percent of cases, significant weight lost through nonsurgical programs is regained within three to five years.
Surgeons at Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group (http://www. pbsmg. com (http://www. pbsmg. com)) have performed over 9,000 procedures on adult and adolescent patients at Scripps Mercy Hospital. As a result of outstanding aftercare programs and support groups, patients at Pacific Bariatric and Scripps Mercy Hospital see a slightly higher success rate than the national average.
Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group and Scripps Mercy Hospital are nationally designated by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery as a Center of Excellence for bariatric surgery. Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group, also known as Hillcrest Surgical Medical Group, Inc., has an 80-year tradition of surgical excellence and leadership in San Diego County. Scripps Mercy Hospital has been a health care leader in San Diego County for more than 115 years, offering patients an unparalleled continuum of care. For more information, visit http://www. pbsmg. com (http://www. pbsmg. com).
Established in 1890 by the Sisters of Mercy, Scripps Mercy Hospital serves the San Diego and Chula Vista communities. With 700 licensed beds, more than 3,000 employees and 1,300 physicians, Scripps Mercy Hospital is San Diego’s longest established and only Catholic medical center. With two campuses, Scripps Mercy Hospital is the largest hospital in San Diego County and one of the 10 largest in California. For more information, visit www. scripps. org/mercy (http://www. scripps. org/mercy).
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