Monday, February 28, 2011

Dr Rubino's study

You could fly to New York and participate...

Can't wait for results!

We are very quickly headed toward individualized access to care, guided by disease and risk, rather than a BMI number...

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Role for Plication? Preop Weight for other procedures.

I think any program would more highly recommend gastric bypass, which has a proven track record, and durability. But, if the patient won't accept the best, we should still offer options.

These sisters have been in the news for their transplant - I didn't realize they had an obesity issue. Thanks to Dr Bachenberg for sending me the link!


Need to lose major weight to qualify for an operation

I have yet to see the research article this newspaper refers to, but it is not a surprise. Programs see this, and my recent visit to my old program in Duluth confirmed our experience there. Many Band patients are quite happy though, and I will continue to place them, with as much informed consent as humanly possible.

Gastric Bypass more effective than Band

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Great Jane Brody Advice

She has been writing sensibly about healthy living for a long time - I remember articles from my college days.

This one is just a great summary - so often things are made over-complicated.

New Government Guidelines

Bioenterics Intragastric Balloon Removal Video

We plan to offer removal for those who have had them inserted out of country.




Saturday, February 12, 2011

Why I had Weight Loss Surgery

Rising Rates of Stroke in Middle Age

It's not quite as dramatic a risk factor as Diabetes, but my Hypertension scared me to death. It's much better controlled now, so I'll probably get hit by a bus!

Seriously though, these risks are important. Real lives are destroyed. When we talk about "comparing the relative risk of surgery to that of non-surgery" keep articles like this one in mind.

Shout out to all who attended the benefit last night for Ali McCabe in Duluth - sorry to miss the party!

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Need for systematic disease management

The biggest problem here is a lack of an integrated health system that keeps the medical "to do" list prioritized based on evidence based impact. Instead we play "whack-a-mole" with whatever happens to stay on the patient's mind...


Gestational Diabetes and later risks

126 Million Americans with Diabetes or Glucose Intolerance

America does have awesome medical capability, we just don't deliver it where it's needed! This is where other systems get a lot more bang for the bucks they put in.