The news of the death of Wadih Wassouf, son of the Sultan of Tarab, George Wassouf, raised a great stir and shock, and raised many questions about the risks of this surgery and the complications that could arise from it, after Wadih’s death brought this surgery back in the limelight, is it really dangerous? Who are the people who can do this? And by whom are they banned?
10 days after Wadih Wassouf underwent gastrectomy or stomach reduction surgery, and after it was successful, he was rushed to intensive care at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, after it was revealed that there was sudden internal bleeding.
Despite the control of the bleeding, Wadih’s condition remained delicate before he died last night, leaving his family and loved ones in a state of stupefaction and mourning.
This surgery, considered one of the most popular and famous surgeries, and leading to weight loss, was indirectly transformed yesterday due to the complications Wadih Wassouf suffered after having it.
A bariatric surgery specialist explains to An-Nahar that sleeve operation, or what is known as stomach reduction or sleeve gastrectomy, is one of the most popular weight loss operations, and by the word sleeve, we mean turn the stomach into a sleeve. In this process, the surgeon cuts out the stomach, as he removes about 80 percent of it, and instead of being like a warehouse, the stomach becomes like a passageway for the transportation of food.
What are the conditions and criteria that prevent this intervention?
The bariatric surgery specialist talks about some of the factors that prevent stomach reduction surgery, especially when we can’t find a medical justification for doing it.
As for the people who are prohibited from doing this, they are:
* Drug addict: if the patient is addicted to a drug, be it alcohol, drugs or some medications. It is impossible for this category to carry out this intervention, because they will not respect the imposed conditions accompanying the intervention. Therefore, an addict can only be operated on if he is completely cured.
* People with gonorrhea problems and at risk of bleeding.
* People suffering from heart problems due to their inability to tolerate general anesthesia.
* People with respiratory or lung problems.
* People suffering from uncontrolled gluttony.
Who are the people authorized to carry out the operation?
* People who have a body mass index between 35 and 40 and have health problems related to obesity.
* People with a BMI over 40.
* Persons with a body mass index of less than 35 and with uncontrolled diabetes.
Preoperative preparation stage
The patient preparation protocol varies from country to country. In France, for example, the study of the file of a patient who wants to perform this operation takes from 6 months to a year, and a committee of bariatric and digestive surgeons, endocrinologists, digestive and respiratory doctors meets, especially if the obesity of the patient affects his lung problems; This is done in the presence of a radiologist to deal with any complications after the operation.
Sometimes the patient is asked to follow a diet to lose weight even before the surgery.
In Lebanon, the bariatric surgeon is primarily responsible for this operation, in collaboration with some doctors and their presence in case of need.
The duration of the intervention
The operation lasts an hour and a half on average, and can sometimes take up to two and a half hours in complex and thorny cases.
What are the complications of surgery?
As with any surgery, stomach reduction involves some rare complications, the most important of which are:
– Leak, perforation or fistula: occupies the list of rare complications that can occur after a stomach reduction operation; And the risk of its occurrence is from the moment of the operation to a maximum of 7 days, so the incidence is decreasing day by day.
Bleeding: the risk is from the time of surgery up to two weeks.
Blood clots: the risk is from the time of the operation until the third week, then the risk decreases with each passing day after the operation.
It remains to be known that the patient must comply with the medical procedures imposed, carry out the required tests and not neglect any symptoms that he may feel.
