Surgical Procedures

BridgeHealth’s World-Class Provider Network™ offers the following bariatric procedures. If you do not see your particular need listed here, please contact a Travel Care Coordinator to discuss further options.

Gastric Lap-Band® (Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or LAGB)
Traditional gastric bypass surgery dramatically reduces the size of the stomach by partitioning off a small section at the top of the stomach using a series of staples. In Gastric Lap-Band® weight loss surgery, an inflatable silicon band placed around the top end of the stomach replaces the staples and restricts the amount of food the stomach can hold. Unlike traditional gastric bypass surgery, this is a reversible, minimally invasive surgical procedure.

Gastric Bypass, Roux-En-Y (RNY or RNYGB)

This procedure combines restrictive and malabsorptive surgical methods to achieve weight loss. The RNY procedure involves dividing the stomach to make a small pouch, which limits how much one can eat or drink during a given period of time. The first 100-150 centimeters of small intestine are rerouted in such a way as to “bypass” food absorption in that portion of intestine. Bile from the liver and enzymes from the pancreas don’t mix with the food to aid digestion until after the first 100-150 centimeters in intestine. An open abdominal or minimally invasive, laparoscopic, surgical approach can be used.

Gastric Sleeve/Sleeve Gastrectomy

This surgical procedure induces weight loss by restricting food intake. The surgeon removes approximately 60 percent of the stomach laparoscopically so that the stomach takes the shape of a tube or "sleeve." This procedure is usually performed on superobese or high-risk patients with the intention of performing another surgery at a later time. This is a non-reversible surgical procedure.

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty

Vertical banded gastroplasty is a restrictive surgical technique for managing obesity. The surgically formed pouch limits the amount of food a patient can eat at one time and slows passage of the food. This is a non-reversible surgical procedure.

Duodenal Switch (also known as Bilio-Pancreatic Diversion or DS)

A weight loss surgery that alters the gastrointestinal tract with two approaches: a restrictive aspect and a malabsorptive aspect. It is a non-reversible surgical procedure.