surgery for a BMI greater than 55 in one institution, greater than 70 in the other; cardiac disease; and sleep apnea requiring c-pap (continuous positive airway pressure, one of the most common treatments for severe apnea). Twenty patients selected for the outpatient surgery were diagnosed with post-procedure obstruction of the gastric pouch. All of these patients were admitted to the hospital for IV fluids, and stayed for three to five days until they were able to take liquids. No patient who was discharged the day of surgery was subsequently readmitted in the immediate post-operative period. Length of stay following surgery averaged four hours.

"We feel that for certain patients who can benefit from gastric banding procedures, offering an outpatient option provides them with a safe, effective alternative," said Scott Helton M.D. "Outpatient procedures are less expensive and more efficient for both the patient and the hospital. In addition, this study demonstrates that these patients can be safely operated upon in a surgicenter which further reduces the cost of the procedure."

Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Results in Decreased Medication Costs Within Six Months (Abstract 100861*)
Undergoing gastric bypass surgery to treat morbid obesity significantly reduces medication costs for related conditions, according to research conducted by scientists at the University of Wisconsin.

The study analyzed the monthly prescription medication costs for 50 laparoscopic gastric bypass patients prior to surgery and six months post-operatively. Patients were on an average of 3.7 prescription medicines pre-op (an average cost of approximately $217.60), compared to 1.7 medications post-op (an average cost of approximately $97.30).

The results were particularly notable in patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diabetes and hyperlipidemia, an elevation of fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides in the b
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16-May-2004

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