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Fortis Hospital, Noida organises conference on Metabolic Surgery

Doctors across India debate on using metabolic surgery to treat life threatening diseases like Diabetes (type-II), Hyper Cholestermia and Hypertension

Noida, 20th January, 2008: Fortis Hospital, Noida today organised a conference on Metabolic Surgery. This is only the second occasion in India, a conference on metabolic surgery is organised (the first one took place in Goa). The high-profile conference was inaugurated by Mr. Shivinder Mohan Singh, MD & CEO, Fortis Healthcare. Mr. Daljit Singh, President-strategy & Organisational Development, and Mr. Jasbir Garewal, Vice President - Operations, were present in the conference. Also present in the conference were star doctors like Dr. Anoop Mishra, Dr. P. K. Chowbey and Dr. Lakrawala.

Metabolic Surgery was previously known as Bariatric Surgery since it was used just to treat morbidly obese person. But after recent research, the doctors have found that, the surgery that was widely considered as a surgery for cosmetic purpose (to reduce weight), is also very effective to control life threatening disease like Diabetes (type-II), Hyper Cholestermia, Hypertension and Sleep Apnea. In the conference, the doctors across India discussed the possibility of widespread use of metabolic surgery to treat these life threatening diseases.

“A person who has a BMI counting of more than 40 is considered as a morbidly obese (excessively fat) patient. Morbid Obesity can be very dangerous since it is the source of life threatening diseases like Coronary Artery Disease, Diabetes, Arthritis, and Hypertension et al. Since traditional method of weight loss does not show any result in a Morbidly Obese Patient, a metabolic surgery is a must to lead a normal life”, said Dr. Yogesh Agarwala, Sr. Consultant, Metabolic Surgical Department, Fortis Hospital, Noida.

Inaugurating the function Mr. Shivinder Mohan Singh, MD & CEO, Fortis Healthcare said, “Our endeavour at Fortis is to provide people with the most advanced treatment process. We are happy that in the UP, we are the first hospital that runs the metabolic surgical programme. We hope that in coming days we will bring rather advanced techniques that will benefit the patients.”

How metabolic surgery is done?

Metabolic Surgery is done on morbidly obese patients. It is done through two procedures. The first procedure is known as Gastric Banding and the second procedure is known as Gastric Bypass. In Gastric Banding, a band is tied in the upper part of the intestine and a small artificial pouch is created. This results in a uniform digestive system which does not trigger to accumulate fat in the body. In the second procedure, the part of the intestine which is responsible for accumulating fat in the body is bypassed. Unlike Gastric Banding, Gastric Bypass is a permanent procedure. The doctor decides on the right procedure after accessing the patient.

How Metabolic Surgery can cure Diabetes?

Diabetes type I can not be treated by metabolic surgery, since it is insulin dependent diabetes. However, study shows that, it shows good result in Diabetes Type II patients (mainly who are morbidly obese). In such patients, the diabetes is the result of excessive body fat, which irregulates the process of insulin production and utilisation in the body. However, after the surgery, the patient loses a quantum amount of body weight and the process of insulin production and utilisation becomes regulate. In the process, diabetes either gets under control or gets cured.

About Fortis Healthcare Limited:

Fortis Healthcare Limited, a Ranbaxy promoter group company, was incorporated in the year 1996. It was founded on the vision of creating an integrated healthcare delivery system. Based in Delhi, FHL, which acquired Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre Limited in September 2005, has operations in Delhi, Jaipur, Noida, Mohali (Chandigarh), Amritsar, Faridabad, Raipur and Srinagar. It currently has a network of 13 hospitals primarily in North India and 16 satellite and heart command centres, including one heart command centre in Afghanistan. These hospitals include multi specialty hospitals, as well as super-specialty centres providing tertiary and quaternary healthcare to patients in areas such as cardiac care, orthopedics, neurosciences, oncology, renal care, gastroenterology and mother and child care. The hospitals that FHL manages include Fortis La Femme, a "boutique" style hospital that focuses on women's health and maternity care. FHL has the capacity to increase inpatient beds to approximately 2200 beds and has performed more than 6,000 open heart surgeries, 5,000 angioplasties and 16,000 angiographies in the last fiscal year.