Winter 2006 - pdf
CBSI and P/SL Designated a “Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence”
Dr. Brown and Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center are pleased to announce their designation as a
"Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence" by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery (ASBS). ASBS
has purposefully identified qualified hospitals and surgeons who have demonstrated a high standard of
care in bariatrics.
In order for surgeons and institutions to qualify for designation, they must be able to provide documentation
that they have the components to perform safe bariatric surgery and posses excellent
short and long-term surgical outcomes. Dr. Brown has successfully performed more than
600 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedures (98% laparoscopically) with a very low rate of complications.
Because many obese patients are afflicted with serious co-morbidities, they can present as patients
with increased surgical risks. Therefore, the bariatric patient requires individualized care, support
from an interdisciplinary team, and specialized equipment. It is at a “Bariatric Surgery Center of
Excellence” that patients can be assured that they will receive the best care and resources to help
ensure the best surgical outcome. We are honored to have received this designation and are
committed to providing quality care to our bariatric patients. |
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Announcing…Our Bariatric Coordinator
I am excited to announce my new position as the Bariatric Coordinator for Presbyterian/St.
Luke’s Medical Center. It is my duty to act as a liaison between CBSI and P/SL to ensure that
our bariatric patients receive the best care possible. As the coordinator, I will be working to
better facilitate patient education and to promote nursing education in the area of bariatrics. I will also manage the quality assurance data collection and long-term follow-up that is so key to
this program.
I will continue to see patients in the clinic one day a week. I look forward to continuing my
relationship with current CBSI patients, as well as fostering relationships with new bariatric
patients as I work with them during their hospital stay.
--Anna Cardinell, RN, FNP
Bariatric Coordinator
Anna presents a free informational seminar on “Bariatric Surgery” every Wednesday morning
at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center at 10:00 a.m. in the Colorado Room North.
Prospective patients and family members are welcome. Please call 303-861-4505 for more
information.
Get your Bone Density Taken in 2006!
It is that time of year again! Time to think about what you are doing “right” after surgery and what
may need a little “improvement” in your meal planning. Generally, most of you can give yourself a welldeserved “pat on the back” for a job well done. Or can we? Is the job EVER finished? If our nutritional
lives are a JOURNEY, then we need to consistently make changes and improvements – even after
we have reached our weight loss goals!
One of the big “deficiency” areas I see on a daily basis is calcium intake. How many of you come into
my office and tell me: “ I knowI need more calcium” or “those pills are huge”. Why do we take little
action? Probably because we don’t see an IMMEDIATE change. Calcium intake isn’t going to cause
weight loss, but it IS going to preserve your bones! This is serious!
The facts:
Obesity is associated with a high bone mineral density (BMD) and a lower risk of osteoporosis (one of
the few benefits to being obese?). However, when you have surgery and lose weight, you reduceyour
BMD and potentially increase the risk for osteoporosis and fracture. In fact, recent studies show that
a typical 10% weight loss is associated with 1-2% loss of BMD (and with higher weight loss (as with surgery),
therefore the risk for reduced BMD and possible fracture is higher.
What can you do about it?
Take your calcium! You need to take 1500 mg/day of calcium citrate (divided in 500-600 mg doses for
maximal absorption). Be sure your supplement contains Vitamin D, to total 400-800 IU/day (to enhance
calcium absorption). And, engage in weight-bearing physical exercise as a component of your follow-up!
Lastly, obtain a bone mineral density test (BMD scan) next time you see your physician. Since it
takes 12-24 months to alter bone metabolism (by calcium supplementation therapy), we advise that you
obtain a baseline BMD beforeyour surgery, and follow up with an annual BMD post-operatively. This
will help you (and us) to evaluate if you have any evidence of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease.
--Shannon Bishop, RD
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Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: A Gift to a Family
Too often, bariatric surgery is viewed as “self”-improvement on the part of the patient. While
post-surgery patients do experience dramatic improvement in health and daily life in general, it is
often the special people in their life who perhaps benefit the most. We’d like to share a letter
(and a family!) that so illustrates how self-less surgery can be.
Dear Dr. Brown,
One year ago my husband and I came to your office for a preoperative
appointment. At that time you asked us what we wanted from the
procedure. I vividly recall asking you, “To give me my husband back”. Well,
November 1st was the one-year anniversary from when you performed my
husband’s life saving procedure, and I want to heartfully thank you for
giving my husband back to me! Through your guidance and my husband’s
hard work, he has shed over 215 pounds and a total of 81 combined inches.
My husband now weighs less than he did in junior high school, but more
importantly, he has no need for blood pressure or diabetes medication, a
machine to aid in his sleep, or faces other serious medical conditions.
I will never forget how your skillful hands, and his ambition and dedication
to himself and our family, worked together to guarantee our future.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Juli Nieto, Wife of Michael and Mother of 4!
The Importance of a “Bariatric Surgery Center
of Excellence”
What does the designation mean?
The Center Excellence designation ensures several expectations
in standard of care. Among these:
- A multidisciplinary approach to treatment of bariatric surgery
- A program that meets the standards of both the National
Institutes of Health and ASBS
- Certified centers with the most experienced surgeons who
tend to have better outcomes
- The high volume that is consistent with a Center of
Excellence translates into lower complication rates
What are the areas of emphasis at our Center of
Excellence?
At this Center of Excellence, our experienced professionals, our
comprehensive program, and our favorable results best highlight
our success. Some important strengths and points of difference:
- We have a compassionate and experienced multidisciplinary
team dedicated to the treatment of obesity
- We have a comprehensive program with full pre- and
post-op support
- Patient education is an integral part of our program,
complete with an extensive patient “manual”, lecture series,
and support group
- We have long-term follow-up with our multidisciplinary team
providing the care, resulting in excellent continuity of care
What are expected patient outcomes at our Center?
We have consistent, favorable results in our patient population
with a total of 600 gastric bypass procedures performed.
Patients experience significant weight loss, and obesity-related
illnesses are reversed or dramatically improved, greatly
contributing to improved health and overall quality of life.
Among our data:
- > 600 cases performed; 98% completed laparoscopically
- Average 6 month weight loss = 90 lbs; 1 year = 117 lbs
- 75% reduction in excess body weight within 1 year
- 94% of diabetes resolves within 3 months
- 66% of hypertension resolves within 6 months; 75% at 1 year
- 64% of sleep apnea resolves within 1 year
- Need for prescription medications greatly diminished
Testimony to the importance and effectiveness of bariatric surgery…
It is importance to seek out an “ASBS Bariatric Surgery Center
of Excellence” when considering bariatric surgery, since these
Centers have low rates of complications and mortalities. It is
equally important to recognize that in this seriously obese
patient population, there is no other effective treatment.
Bariatric surgery allows these patients to
- lose significant weight
- reverse many obesity-related health problems
- and favorably impact longevity and quality of life.
Our Center of Excellence is committed to continuing to support
this important trend in healthcare.
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Cold and Flu Season: What to Use
What medications are safe for
a bariatric surgery patient to
take during this season of
colds and the flu?. Here are
our recommendations from
CBSI for that—oh, so fun—
congestion, coughing, and so
on! (Any persistent medical
conditions should be discussed
with your physician).
Medications to avoid
(to prevent gastric irritation)
- Aspirin
- Motrin
- Advil
- Naproxen sodium products
Also avoid (to prevent dumping
syndrome)
- Cough syrups containing
sugar and alcohol
Approved medications
- Benadryl
- Tylenol products
- Sugar-free and alcoholfree
Sudafed and cough
syrups
- Sugar-free decongestants
Other preventative methods
- Stay hydrated with at least
64 oz of water
- Maintain recommended
supplements, including
prenatal vitamin and calcium
- Add extra vitamin C (500-
1000) mg and sugar-free
zinc lozenges to help boost
the immune system
- Consume adequate amounts
of protein daily
If you have any other questions,
please feel free to call
the office and I’ll be happy to
address them.
--Allison Van Fleet, RN, MS
Seminar Series
February 15th
Shannon Bishop, RD
“Purely Protein”
Protein is key to overall success following weight loss
surgery. Shannon will discuss innovative ways to achieve
your protein requirements. March 15th
Shannon Bishop, RD, and Allison Van Fleet, RN, MS
“Nutrition Refresher Long After Gastric Bypass”
As we all know, the commitment to lifestyle and dietary
changes continues long after our surgery date. Shannon and
Allison will discuss cravings, grazing, food choices as the
hunger returns, and the dreaded fear of weight gain.
This
class
is
ideal
for
patients
who
are>1
year
out
from
surgery,
but
everyone
is
welcome.
April 19th
Chef Scott DeVee
“Quick and Easy Every Day Meals”
Come join Scott and discover new recipes for your
busy weeknights that are easy to make, ideal for
bariatric patients and delicious.
These seminars are offered as part of CBSI’s long-term
bariatric surgery program. They will be held at
Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center in the
Colorado Room South at 6:00 p.m. Immediately following the seminars (7:00 p.m.), our
CBSI Support Group will be meeting in the same room.
Become more enlisted in our Seminars and Support
Groups! You will be able to gain knowledge AND share
experiences with other bariatric surgery patients.Think
of how GREAT being involved will feel! |
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