Payne County Youth Services Inc
(405) 377-3380
www.pcys.org
2224 West 12th Street
Stillwater OK 74074

Rehabilitation Services

Primary Focus: Mental health services
Services Provided: Substance abuse treatment
Type of Care: Outpatient
Special Programs/Groups: Adolescents

Adjustable Gastric Band

A laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, commonly referred to as a lap band, is an inflatable silicone device that a surgeon places around the top portion of the stomach, via laparoscopic surgery, in order to treat obesity. Adjustable gastric band surgery is an example of bariatric surgery designed for obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater, or between 35 to 40 in cases of patients with certain co-morbidities that are known to improve with weight loss, such as sleep apnea, diabetes, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure or metabolic syndrome, among others. Gastric banding is the least invasive surgery of all bariatric surgeries. Gastric banding using laparoscopic surgery usually results in a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, smaller scars, and less pain than open surgical procedures. The patient can continue to absorb nutrients from food normally. Gastric bands are made entirely of biocompatible materials, so they can stay in the body without causing harm. However, not all patients are eligible for laparoscopy. Patients who are extremely obese, who have had previous abdominal surgery or have complicating medical problems may require a more open surgery approach. The surgeon creates a small incision near the belly button and pumps carbon dioxide into the abdomen to create a workspace. Then the surgeon inserts a small laparoscopic camera through the incision into the abdomen. The camera sends a picture of the stomach and abdominal cavity to a video monitor. It gives the surgeon a good view of the key structures in the abdominal cavity. The surgeon makes more small incisions in the abdomen. The surgeon watches the video monitor and works through these small incisions using instruments with long handles to complete the procedure. The surgeon creates a small, circular tunnel behind the stomach, inserts the gastric band through the tunnel and locks the band around the stomach. Clinical studies of laparoscopic bariatric surgery patients found that they felt better, spent more time doing recreational and physical activities, benefited from enhanced productivity and economic opportunities and had more self-confidence than they did before surgery. The placement of the band creates a small pouch, or stoma, at the top of the stomach. This pouch holds approximately one half cup of food. A typical stomach holds about six cups of food. The pouch fills with food quickly, and the band slows the passage of food from the pouch to the lower part of the stomach, causing the sensation of being full. As the upper part of the stomach registers as full, the message to the brain is that the entire stomach is full, and this sensation helps a person to be hungry less often, feel full more quickly and for a longer period, eat smaller portions, and lose weight over time. As patients lose weight, their bands will need adjustments, or "fills," to ensure comfort and effectiveness. The surgeon can adjust the gastric band by introducing a saline solution into a small access port just under the skin. There are many port designs and a surgeon may place them in varying positions, but they always connect to the muscle wall in and around the diaphragm via sutures or staples.

Complementary Medicine

Many Americans use complementary and alternative medicine in pursuit of health and wellbeing. Defining complementary medicine is difficult, because the field is very broad and constantly changing. Complementary medicine is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices and products that physicians and the public do not generally consider a part of conventional medicine. Conventional medicine is medicine as practiced by holders of MD medical degrees, as medical doctors and DO as doctors of osteopathy degrees and by allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists and registered nurses. The boundaries between complementary medicine and conventional medicine are not absolute and specific complementary medicine practices may become widely accepted.
Most alternative medicines that Americans use are complementary. Alternative medicine refers to complementary medicine that replaces conventional medicine. Integrative medicine refers to a practice that combines both conventional and complementary medicine treatments that show safety and effectiveness.