The Bariatric Center At FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital

For patients who are morbidly (excessively) overweight and have been unsuccessful in controlling their weight through diet and exercise programs, bariatric surgery may be an effective treatment option.

The Bariatric Center at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst has been designated a Center of Excellence in by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery.  In addition, the program has also been awarded the Blue Cross Blue Shield Center of Excellence for bariatric surgery.  The Center offers offers Roux-en Y divided gastric bypass surgery, the adjustable gastric band and revisional bariatric surgery.

As the region’s first bariatric surgery program C. Kenneth Mitchell Jr., M.D., a general and bariatric surgeon with Pinehurst Surgical, established the mid-Carolinas’ only bariatric surgery program at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in 1999. He and Raymond G. Washington , M.D., who is also affiliated with Pinehurst Surgical, now comprise the bariatric surgery team.

Performed by way of either a traditional “open” incision or a laparoscopic(minimally invasive) approach, Roux-en Y gastric bypass is a proven safe and effective method for promoting weight loss in the morbidly obese and for treating the illnesses associated with morbid obesity such as sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure and joint pain.

Roux-en Y Divided Gastric Bypass Surgery
The Roux-en Y procedure reduces the capacity of the stomach to a small pouch that holds about one ounce of food. The pouch is completely divided from the stomach and is connected to the small intestine so that it can empty. Limiting the amount of food a patient can eat and the number of calories that the patient’s body can absorb helps the patient achieve dramatic weight loss while often controlling Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and other health problems.

Adjustable Gastric Band
The adjustable gastric band is the only adjustable surgical treatment for morbid obesity. It induces weight loss by reducing the capacity of the stomach, which restricts the amount of food that can be consumed. During the procedure, surgeons usually use laparoscopic techniques to implant an inflatable silicone band into the patient’s abdomen. Like a wristwatch, the band is fastened around the upper stomach to create a new, tiny stomach pouch that limits and controls the amount of food that is eaten. It also creates a small outlet that slows the emptying process into the stomach and small intestine. As a result, patients experience an earlier sensation of fullness and are satisfied with smaller amounts of food.

Revisional Bariatric Surgery
Revisional bariatric surgery is performed to alter or repair a previous operation for treatment of morbid obesity. There are two reasons for revisional bariatric surgery: poor weight loss or weight regain, and complications of the original procedure.