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DRHC offers laparoscopic gastric banding to help those who are seriously overweight Shelley Kebart loves to fish and camp with her family. However, at 235 pounds and suffering from osteoarthritis, all she could do was sit and watch her children. "I turned 35 this year and hit the point where I knew I had to do something," said Kebart.On January 14, 2004, Kebart had a new kind of stomach surgery for obesity. The procedure called laparoscopic gastric banding, was approved for use in the United States in June, 2001 (it has been performed in Europe for 10 years). Kebart has lost 90 pounds in 10 months going from a size 22 down to a size 10. "I couldn't tell myself stop eating, you're done. I needed something to tell me - you are done," said Kebart. "The surgery is not magic," said Dr. Daniel Margo, of Itasca Surgical Clinic who performs the LAP-BAND surgery at Deer River HealthCare Center (DRHC). "The band creates a powerful tool that helps (patients) be full and satisfied on a small amount of food, and it's up to the patient to take advantage of that." The BioEnterics LAP-BAND System creates an earlier feeling of fullness and limits food consumption. The LAP-BAND System, which is adjustable and reversible, is placed laparoscopically without cutting or stapling of the stomach and without gastrointestinal rerouting to bypass normal digestion. To date, more than 100,000 people worldwide have undergone the LAP-BAND System procedure. "Diets - you name it I tried it," said Kebart. "I had read about gastric banding and was so pleased when Deer River HealthCare Center decided to bring this to our community. I didn't want to take the risks associated with gastric bypass, especially with three kids at home depending on me." "Deer River HealthCare Center is committed to providing area residents with new minimally invasive surgical solutions," said Jeffry Stampohar, CEO Deer River HealthCare Center. "The BioEnterics LAP-BAND System reduces complications and recovery time compared to more conventional weight-loss surgeries. We are one of the first to offer this new technique, another example of our continuing commitment to providing the highest quality healthcare close to home." "The beauty of the LAP-BAND System is that it is safe, adjustable and reversible," said Margo. "With this approach we believe patients will experience reduced pain, trauma, and recovery periods, as well as sustained, healthy weight loss." According to Kebart, "Losing weight has helped my arthritis - my hips and knees don't hurt as much, and I just feel a lot more confident." Obesity contributes to numerous health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart conditions, acid reflux, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis and type two diabetes. DRHC requires the following criteria for anyone considering the LAP-BAND:
"I met with all members of the team to make sure I was healthy enough for the surgery, but most important was determining if I was really committed to changing my lifestyle," said Kebart. "I keep myself on track by attending the DRHC support group for those who have had the LAP-BAND surgery and those who are preparing to have the surgery." Margo, age 43, attended training in the LAP-BAND System through a physician's educational course offered by BioEnterics. He performed several of these procedures with Dr. Peter Billing, a bariatric surgeon trained at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He received further training this past summer with Dr. Santiago Horgan in Chicago and Dr. Emma J. Patterson a leading bariatric surgeon in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Horgan, one of the first surgeons to be trained in the use of LAP-BAND System and director of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Center at the University of Illinois, also came to Deer River HealthCare Center to assist Dr. Margo in surgery. "I knew of Dr. Patterson out in Portland. She has done well over 300 of these procedures," said Margo. "I was able to observe two of these lap band procedures performed by Dr. Patterson. She was exceptional in her style of management for overweight patients and we have been able to bring that style here using our team approach," he concluded. In addition to LAP-BAND, Margo also performs, TriVex a minimally invasive surgical treatment for varicose veins, and laparoscopic fundoplication, a minimally invasive treatment for acid reflux. All three surgical procedures are offered at Deer River HealthCare Center. See your doctor for a referral, call DRHC directly at (218) 246-2900, or Dr. Margo at 327-7973 for more information.
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