OUR EXPERIENCE AND RESULTS

• Results from the intragastric balloon (IGB)
• Results from the adjustable gastric band
• Results from the sleeve gastrectomy
• Results from the gastric bypass

1. CLINICA OBESITAS WAS THE FIRST CLINIC IN SPAIN TO UTILIZE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS OF SPECIALISTS TO GIVE SUPPORT TO OBESE PATIENTS.

What is their function?

1. To carefully evaluate the patient’s options before surgery to understand the most appropriate choice in each case
2. To give support to the patients after surgery in order to make diet and lifestyle changes easier.

What is their justification?

• Morbid obesity patients are not capable of immediately changing their habits after a weight loss surgery.
  
  
• The support of dietitians-nutritionists, psychologists, bariatric surgeons and a physical exercise program are essential for good results after a weight loss surgery.
  
  
• We implemented the multidisciplinary support teams in 2003, following techniques learned from European and American teams which were improved and adapted to our environment.
  
  
• We currently offer a complete informative program, which includes personal consultations with our specialists, in addition to psychology and dietetic workshops, exercise training and a full library on diet, psychology and physical exercise.
  
  
• We participate in training sessions and scientific conferences, sharing our experience and results on the application of the multidisciplinary support team.

2. OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE INTRAGASTRIC BALLOON:

• The IGB is not a permanent treatment, therefore the patient can regain the lost weight after the device has been removed.
  
  
•  We have mostly solved this issue. We know that the patient will not regain weight or will keep it off for a while (up to one year check-ups) when:
  
  
1. During treatment with the IGB the patient is capable of changing his/her mindset in relation to food.
   
   
2. The patient changes dietetic habits and lifestyle following the team’s advice.
   
   
3. The patient is able to get to the targeted weight when the IGB is removed.
   

When these 3 statements are met, the patient is able to control the weight with excitement and believing in him/herself, keeping the results long term.

• Dr. Jose Vte. Ferrer, lead surgeon and team coordinator at Clínica Obésitas, has completed over 500 interventions performed laparoscopically, of which over 150 were on morbid obese patients.
  
  
• He founded and coordinated the Laparoscopic Surgery School of the biomedical research unit at Hospital de Navarra, from 1995 to 1998.
  
  
• He has attended multiple national and international laparoscopic surgery conferences and training sessions. He has trained and learned weight-loss laparoscopic surgery with leading specialists in Spain and Europe: Dr. Chevalier, Dr. Chiche, Dr. Weinner, Dr. Hernández  and Dr. Baltasar, who specialize in a variety of obesity surgery methods.
  

4. OUR EXPERIENCE IN ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BANDING (AGB) via LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY

• Dr. Jose Vte. Ferrer, performed the first AGB intervention via laparoscopic surgery back in 2003 and has since operated on more than 130 patients.

• Excellent surgical training, a detailed methodology, the right technical resources and a close and experienced surgical team has allowed us to avoid any major complications.
  
  
• We have made incremental modifications to our surgical technique on an ongoing basis. We learned from international experts and have reduced the percent of erosions and slippage (important potential complications from AGB) to 0.7%. Other groups have published percentages between 5 and 15%.
  
  
• Our rate of minor complications is 2-3% and our mortality rate is 0%.

• In Spain, we pioneered the sleeve gastrectomy technique as a restrictive and permanent technique to treat morbid obesity.
  
  
• Sleeve gastrectomy is a new technique. When first introduced, roughly 6 years ago, it was used as the first of two surgeries on very obese patients.  The first surgery was performed, to be followed 1-2 years later by a final surgery, usually a gastric by-pass. However, results have shown that many patients lost more weight than expected following the initial surgery, eliminating the need for the second surgery.  Additionally, many patients did not regain the weight lost.
  
  
• A year ago, in some Spanish hospitals, the sleeve gastrectomy started being the only surgery needed to treat obesity.
  
  
• Dr. Jose Vte. Ferrer, after learning the procedure with leading specialists started performing the sleeve gastrectomy in February of 2007. It is recommended as a restrictive technique, similar to the Adjustable Gastric Banding but without the need for a permanent prosthesis and as an alternative to the bypass when the patient characteristics justify it.
  
  
• The preliminary results of weight loss are excellent. The patients are only admitted for a couple days and typically go back to have a normal life within 7 days. We have not had any complications.
  
  
• This is currently one of the interventions that appeals most to our patients.

6. OUR EXPERIENCE IN GASTRIC BYPASS VIA LAPAROSCOPY

• For the treatment of obesity, bypass surgery is the “gold standard” test. It is 25 years old and the most known and tested technique.
  
  
• Even though it is a riskier technique because of the anastomosis or connections between the stomach and the intestine, the ability to perfom it via laparoscopy has significantly reduced the incidence of complications.
  

•  After 2 years of training, Dr. Jose Vte. Ferrer began performing gastric bypass via laparoscopy in March of 2007. To support Dr. Jose Vte. Ferrer with this procedure we have added a new specialist surgeon to our team. He has had excellent training in laparoscopic surgery to treat obesity.
  
  
• Preliminary results are excellent. Patients are admitted for 4 days and can go back to their normal life in 8-10 days. We have not had any complications.
  
  
• Typical weight loss with procedure is significant.