The History of Weight Loss Surgery

Dx E, thanks for that link. I actually used that site as reference when writing my thread. Their history is somewhat incomplete, but a much shorter read than mine. In addition to that site I also used: http://www.lgbsurgery.com/technical.html http://www.usbariatric.com/Newsletters/Jan_Feb_06.pdf http://www.seriousweightloss.net/articles/index.php http://www.bariatricprocedures.org/ http://www.proz.com/kudoz/676222 http://drsimpson.net/07_surgery_stories%20(SS)/7_SS_02/RNY/R NY.htm and a number of other sites. Unfortunately I hadn't started pasting into MS Word until after I had 'lost' several of them EDIT: Actually, that wasn't the link I used Dx E, the one I had was http://www.asbs.org/html/patients/bpds.html (sorry, the link looked similar in my hasty reply). Thanks again for that link, that site has a great history.

Cool!!! Thanks! I'm a "Link-Collector!" Best Wishes- Dx

thats great information ...Have you ever heard of the "gastic ball" while doing the research on my hopefully upcoming sugery I found this small information ..Its a non-invasive procidure were a ballon is placed in the stomach and filled with a saline solution ..

I haven't come across that one. If I get a chance later, I will see what I can find

It is actually called a Gastric Balloon and I have found some initial information on the procedure here: http://www.millsmedical.com/obesity/gastric-balloon.asp There are also the results of a study using a 300 ml balloon here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=Pub Med&list_uids=2071316&dopt=AbstractPlus In the study: A study was conducted to test the efficacy and safety of a 300 ml silicone-rubber gastric balloon for weight reduction. Eighty-six obese subjects were distributed into four groups: (1) gastric balloon only, (2) gastric balloon and prescribed 1000 kcal/day (239 kJ) diet, (3) 1000 kcal/day diet only, and (4) no treatment. The intervention period was 3 months.  The balloon only group lost 3.2 kg (+/- 0.9 kg) on average The balloon and diet group lost 5.1 kg (+/- 1.0 kg) on average The diet group lost 6.9 kg (+/- 1.4 kg) on average The control group gained 0.6 kg (+/- 0.5 kg) on average NOTE: a kg is 2.2 pounds so multiply those numbers by 2.2 to determine weight loss in pounds. ADDITIONAL NOTE: It would worry me that the diet only group lost more weight on average than the baloon group were I considering this process. Complications: Gastroscopy revealed three ulcers and two superficial erosions at balloon removal. The gastric balloons were well tolerated despite gastric spasms and nausea which abated after the initial 24-48 hours.  NOTE: As there were 21 people in each group, 3 ulcers out of 21 participants equates to a 1 in 7 chance of developing an ulcer after only 90 days. The 'superficial errosions' while trivial (based off of their use of the word 'superficial') presumably could turn into 'serious errosions' in periods longer than 90 days. FINAL NOTE: This is all I have found so far but I would be highly suspect of this procedure.

Great post, and great information.