12-Year-Old Girl’s Condition Improves After Weight Loss Surgery

April 1, 2014

Doctors who performed weight loss surgery on a 12-year-old girl from Texas said her health condition has already improved just a week after surgery. Surgeons at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center performed a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy on 12-year-old Alexis Shapiro on March 21st.

Once a normal weight child, Alexis rapidly gained 140 pounds after brain surgery damaged the portion of her brain that regulates weight and appetite. She weighed 203 pounds at the time of surgery and had Type 2 diabetes. Doctors said that all signs of her diabetes were gone within 24 hours of surgery, and they predict she will never need insulin again. Her constant hunger and appetite also resolved and she feels satisfied on just a few bites of food.

Originally, Alexis's surgeon, Dr. Thomas Inge, had planned on performing a gastric bypass surgery and a vagotomy (the removal of part of the vagus nerve). However, plans changed during surgery when it was discovered Alexis's liver was larger than expected so Dr. Inger performed a Vertical Sleeve Gastroplasty instead. Doctors posted updates on Twitter during the procedure.

Alexis's story first made headlines when her insurance denied coverage of the much needed weight loss surgery. Online fundraisers helped raise money for the family to cover medical expenses, but in the meantime upon further review of her case the insurance company overturned the denial.

Sources:

Aleccia, J. (2014, March 29). Texas girl improves rapidly after obesity surgery. Retrieved from The Today Show: http://www.today.com/health/texas-girl-improves-rapidly-after-obesity-surgery-2D79455427

Huffington Post. (2014, March 31). Alexis Shapiro, Obese But Starving 12-Year-Old, Undergoes Weight Loss Surgery. Retrieved from Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/21/alexis-shapiro-surgery_n_5009264.html