Informed Consent Form For Surgery

Laparoscopic One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass as a REVISION procedure

Also referred to as Mini Gastric Bypass, Omega loop, Single anastomosis gastric bypass

Procedure

Laparoscopic One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (31584) as a REVISION bariatric procedure

       -  This procedure is a variant of gastric bypass surgery with biliopancreatic diversion without duodenal switch

Other possible incidental procedures:

  • Repair of paraoesophageal hiatal hernia (31468)

  • Division of adhesions (30722 or 30724)

  • Partial gastrectomy from re-calibration of the gastric pouch (no item number)


Indication for surgery:

• Morbid Obesity

• Failed weight-loss or weight regain after previous weight-loss procedure ( such as Orbera Balloon / Lap Band/ Sleeve Gastrectomy)


Alternatives to this procedure:

• May include Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Re-Sleeve Gastrectomy or Lap Band Surgery and Non-surgical weight-loss including medication


How is the procedure performed?

  • A gastroscopy is usually performed in the work-up before surgery, sometimes weeks prior or on the day.

  • Surgery is performed under General Anaesthesia.

  • The surgery is performed using key-hole surgery and there will usually be 5 small incisions or possibly more depending on surgical access.

  • Scar tissue (adhesions) will likely be present from previous surgery and these will have to be freed and divided to enable the surgery to proceed. Sometimes it is not possible to free all of the scar tissue through keyhole surgery if the scar tissue is too extensive, and if this was the case the surgery would either be abandoned or converted to an open procedure.

  • The stomach will be stapled into two separated compartments with food passing into the “gastric pouch”.  The pouch is calibrated around a narrow tube approximately the width of your index or middle finger. If a sleeve gastrectomy has previous been performed, it will be divided into two parts and the upper part potentially recalibrated around the tube.

  • The majority of the stomach or outlet of the stomach is “bypassed” or excluded from ingested food.

  • 150-250cm of small intestine is also bypassed and then connected to the bottom of the gastric pouch for food to

    pass into and be absorbed by the body,

  • You may be offered the option of a fixed-ring around the gastric pouch to prevent pouch dilatation over time and possibly better sustained weight loss.  This is offered to only certain patients whom it is felt that may benefit from such a device due to their eating habits. Examples of these rings are the mid-cal ring and minimizer ring. However, there are potential risks to the ring also such as erosion and functional obstruction causing food tolerance problems.

  • A surgical glue may be used also to prevent bleeding.

  • After surgery

    • Pain around the wounds and shoulder tip are to be expected following surgery.

    •  Swallowing fluids and eventually food may feel different after surgery.

    • Most patients will be discharged home after 1 or 2 nights stay in hospital.

    • You will need to remain on anti-acid medication (Pantoprazole or another proton-pump inhibitor) for 3 months after surgery.

    • You will be on vitamin supplements for the rest of your life.

    • You will require blood test nutritional monitoring for the rest of your life.

    • You will be on a modified post-surgery diet which will be instructed by the dietitian.

    • It is recommended that you take two weeks off work to recovery from surgery.

    • You will not be able to drive for at least 7 days after surgery.


  • If you live more than 1 hour drive from Brisbane, you will need to stay locally in the greater Brisbane Region after surgery for your recovery for at least 10 days after surgery, in case you were to develop early complications.

Please click on this link to view an educational video on the One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTxZFcTc6SM


Additional information is available at this informative website:

https://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/mini-gastric-bypass-surgery.html


Potential risks of surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is considered safe and has a very low risk of serious complications. Revision surgery has higher risk than primary surgery. Revision surgery and surgery in smokers, patients on medication that affects healing or blood clotting, or other significant medical conditions may have a higher risk of complications with surgery.

Gastric bypass surgery will usually NOT be offered to patients who smoke because of the risk of complications and marginal ulceration, and if you are a smoker you are required to stop smoking AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  You may be required to prove your commitment to remaining smoke free for a period of time, if you are a recently quit smoker.  If you are a smoker and have not discussed this with Dr Wong, you are advised to declare this to a member of Dr Wong's team immediately.


Serious complications - (rare <1%) - the risk of these complications are higher in revision surgery

Damage to other structures or organs.

Major Bleeding.

Staple line leak – which can result in serious illness requiring further interventions.

Anastomotic leak -  which can result in serious illness requiring further interventions.

Death


Uncommon complications

Reflux symptoms which may be acid reflux or bile reflux. This can require further surgery to remedy if medication cannot adequately treat the reflux symptoms.

Difficulty swallowing, or feeling that things don't pass down the oesophagus as well.

Pouch or anastomosis dilatation over time with loss of restriction.

Weight regain.

Poor weight loss or excessive weight loss - the ultimate result varies between people and can be more variable after revision surgery compared with primary surgery.

Malnutrition – Iron, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Zinc, Protein.

Dumping syndrome.

Post-prandial reactive hypoglycaemia.

Internal hernia (twisted bowel).

Loose bowel motions (may be more likely with revision surgery as more bowel may be bypassed) or constipation.

Twisting of the gastric pouch.

Narrowing of the gastric pouch.


Other General Risks

Wound infection.

Incisional hernia.

Gallstones developing (approx 30%),  which may require further surgery.

Venous thromboembolism.

Pneumonia.

Complications related to anaesthesia or medications including a severe allergic reaction.


My Obligations and Responsibilities when having Bariatric surgery

Having bariatric surgery is not just about losing weight, but also committing to looking after your own health and well-being. Being a revision surgery, the stakes are already higher because you have already had one procedure which has not worked out entirely.  You therefore need to be fully invested to commit to the complete set of changes that go hand-in-hand with having revision surgery.

There are a number of follow-up appointments with Dr Wong and his nurse that you will be expected to participate in as part of your follow-up pathway. These follow-up appointments have been explained to you previously, and a schedule of your appointments will be provided to you after your surgery. Because some of these appointments are arranged months or even a year in advance,  it is expected that you make arrangements in your timetable to fit these in around work and other commitments.

There is risk of malnutrition or nutritional deficits after having bariatric surgery, and one of the most important aspects about having surgery is learning about the types of food you should be eating, the amounts and frequency, drinking enough fluids and taking vitamins and other supplements as directed.

You will need to take vitamins and other supplements for the rest of your entire life.  You will also need to undergo blood tests to monitor your nutritional status for the rest of your entire life.

The pathway to have surgery requires multiple steps, which most people are not familiar with. It is our aim to provide you with as much information about everything, and we will communicate these things with you via email. It is your responsibility to read the emails and information that is provided to you, if you ever are wondering what to do next.


Clinical Photography and Video

It is standard practice for Dr Wong to capture images whilst performing surgery using the laparoscopic camera system. These photographs document key parts of the surgical procedure and form part of the clinical records for your surgery stored with the hospital and Dr Wong's practice.

Occasionally, de-identified clinical images are required for research study or teaching purposes and if one of the images captured from your surgery depicts a particular teaching point well, it may be used for this with your permission.

Dr Wong may also record parts of or the entire surgical procedure. This is so that if there are any complications that occur during your surgery, the footage can always be reviewed to try to identify a cause.


Blood Transfusions and Blood Products

A   blood transfusion  is not expected to be needed as part of surgery, however in an urgent situation it may be advised. Please state whether you consent to a blood transfusion being given if required.

You are encouraged to consent to blood transfusion unless you have a strong reason not to, and understand the consequences of refusing blood transfusion.

Blood transfusion  is when you’re given blood, or components of blood such as red blood cells, plasma or cells called platelets, from someone else (a donor). It is a very safe procedure that can be lifesaving. It may be required if there is significant bleeding during or following the operation.

Compared to other everyday risks, the likelihood of getting an infection from blood transfusion is very low.

Donors and blood donations are screened for a number of infections which can be transmitted through blood, but it is not practical or even possible to screen donations for all infections, therefore, there will will always be a small risk associated with having blood transfusion.

Reactions can also occur despite best measures having been made to administer blood that is compatible with your blood type. Because of the strict processes and pathways that exist to match blood type, the check-points to eliminate error, serious blood incompatability reactions are very rare. Occasionally, mild reactions can occur such as fever.


Data Collection

Dr Wong submits data to the Bariatric Surgery Registry through Monash University. This data is de-identified, and   enables important statistics on bariatric surgery to be kept in Australia to provide information about how many procedures are done per year and surgical outcomes and complications.

Dr Wong also maintains his own prospective database on every patient that he performs surgery on to enable him to track his case numbers and surgical outcomes for quality control, audit and potentially research study purposes.



Third Parties present in the operating theatre

Industry product support specialists may be present in the operating theatre with Dr Wong, to provide support to Dr Wong and the theatre team for various pieces of equipment such as the laparoscopic camera, stack and screen, surgical devices and instruments or adjunctive agents used such as staple-line reinforcement, sutures or surgical glue.

Other surgical or medical personel may also be present in theatre to observe Dr Wong operating to learn about bariatric surgery. Such persons may include other surgeons, doctors, nurses, dietitians, medical or nursing students and paramedics. These persons are there purely to learn and observe, and will not have any role in performing or assisting the surgery.



Patient Consent

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Consenting Doctor

Dr Jason Wong

General, Upper GI and Bariatric Surgeon

Operating out of North West Private Hospital, Mater Private Hospital (South Brisbane and Rockhampton)

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Please sign here if you are needing to re-confirm your surgical consent

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