Desert Springs Hospital Hospital

Since 1971 Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center has offered healthcare services to meet the needs of southern Nevada. The hospital is nationally recognized for many of its services including bariatrics, chest pain and diabetes. The Center for Surgical Weight Loss at Desert Springs Hospital offers an array of bariatric services to meet patients’ individual needs including the roux-en-y procedure (gastric bypass), laparoscopic gastric bypass, Lap-Band® System.

Desert Springs offers multiple seminars a month in English and Spanish in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada to make it convenient for patients.

Roux-en-Y (Gastric Bypass)
In the Roux-en-Y procedure, surgeons place a staple line across the top portion of the stomach to create a very small stomach pouch. Surgeons then connect the new stomach pouch to the small intestine. This reduces the amount of food eaten and decreases absorption of the food that is consumed.

Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass
Laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery uses several very small incisions in the abdomen instead of a single, large incision. Surgeons operate through these incisions using a laparoscope—a fiber optic tube and a small video camera that shows the abdominal organs on a TV monitor. Patients usually feel less pain and have a shorter recovery period with laparoscopic surgery.

Gastric Banding
Gastric banding surgery is performed laparoscopically by placing an inflatable band around the upper part of the stomach. The new, small upper stomach pouch and a narrowed outlet limit the stomach capacity and increase the feeling of fullness. The following reduction in food intake results in weight loss.

Gastric Sleeve
The gastric sleeve is a procedure for patients who have had gastric banding and need an alternative to lose weight. This procedure surgically removes part of the stomach and does not require an artificial device inside the stomach. The gastric sleeve also does not require fills and adjustments like gastric banding does.

Naquita Parker-Richardson
RN and Bariatric Coordinator at Desert Springs
Weight before surgery–296 pounds
Weight six months after surgery–206 pounds
Weight two years later–142 pounds

Before surgery Naquita struggled to climb the stairs in her home, sit on an airplane comfortably, play on the floor with her seven grandchildren, or go to the movies without people gawking and much physical and mental discomfort.

Naquita, who meets with bariatric patients before and after they have surgery at Desert Springs, says it is a major lifestyle change and it requires determination and dedication to be successful and keep the weight off.

"The first six months after surgery were almost impossible," Naquita said. "I had to keep telling myself, ‘You're not hungry.' I didn't realize that my whole life had been focused on food until I couldn't have it. It's very difficult to change, but the fact is, I can live on less food."

Her advice for obese patients who are considering bariatric surgery: "It's not a fast fix. It's a tool and a means of getting you to an end ... which is your ideal goal weight, to be healthy, live longer and enjoy your family."

Desert Springs Hospital works hard to accommodate the needs of its bariatric patients and its staff has undergone sensitivity training. Desert Springs Hospital offers seminars in English and Spanish and nutritional education and support for its bariatric patients.