KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital (KPJ DSH), one of KPJ Healthcare Berhad’s hospitals accredited by the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH), successfully conducted a ‘live’ bariatric surgery today which was performed by Dr. Paul Wizman, Medical Director of Bariatric Program from Northwest Medical Center, Florida, who is also a visiting consultant at KPJ DSH; together with KPJ DSH’s Laparoscopic and Obesity Surgeon of KPJ DSH Severe Obesity Centre (SOC), Dato’ Dr. Haron. Ahmad. The surgery was broadcasted live to an audience in the hospital conference room. The broadcast was also attended by premier surgeons from both the public and private sectors. During the broadcast, members of the audience had the opportunity to interact actively with Dr Wizman and Prof Dato’ Dr Haron.
The surgery was broadcast live to an audience in the hospital conference room. The broadcast was also attended by premier surgeons from both the public and private sectors. During the broadcast, members of the audience had the opportunity to interact actively with Dr Wizman and Prof Dato’ Dr Haron.
KPJ DSH which has been in operation since 1997, established the Severe Obesity Centre, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, in June 2006. To date, 21 successful surgeries have been performed and the results have been dramatic. Most of the patients operated on had lost an average of 30 – 40 kg within one year. The gastric bypass surgery has been noted as the most successful surgical method for weight loss in morbidly obese patients. Surgical management is recommended for patients with severe obesity problems who have tried other weight loss methods but to no avail. The surgical procedure helps to decrease the volume of intake and further decrease the absorption of calories. A person who undergoes such procedures typically loses 50%-70% of their excess body weight.
Most people do not realize that obesity is a medical problem and is one of the leading factors of premature death. Statistics form a solid proof to this. Every year, many individuals die due to obesity-related complications, also known as co-morbidities. In Malaysia itself, 12% of the adult population is obese. A person is categorized as morbidly obese if their Body Mass Index (BMI) is more than 35.
KPJ DSH offers several treatments for morbid obesity and one of the services offered is the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. It is a procedure whereby a stomach pouch the size of a human thumb is created using a surgical stapler. Due to its sheer size, the pouch allows only a small portion of food to be consumed at a time. The surgery then continues with the division of the small bowel about two feet from the stomach. The small intestine is attached to the stomach pouch (the gastrojejunostomy) whereas the other end of the small intestine is reconnected to the intestinal tract (the jejunostomy). As gastric bypass implies, the patient’s digestive process is altered. After surgery, when food is consumed, it bypasses most of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine.
A screening process is required before the patient is considered as a suitable candidate for a gastric bypass surgery. At the Severe Obesity Centre, the initial assessment will be done by the Bariatric nurse coordinator and an appointment will be made with the Bariatric Surgeon for consultation. Once the patient has been identified as a suitable candidate, he/she will undergo a counseling session to help them modify their lifestyle behaviour post surgery. After the surgery, patients are invited to join in the Obesity Support Group which holds monthly get-together. The objective of the Support Group is to enable the patients to share their stories and motivate each other to ensure ongoing weight loss.
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