Welcome to the Official SAMPA Blog
Avoiding an Incisional Hernia After Surgery
Incisional hernias are a relatively uncommon, but real concern after any surgical procedure. Anytime the skin, musculature and fascia of the abdomen is compromised – in this case due to the inevitable incisions needed for surgery, that area is inherently weaker than before. But how do we avoid incisional hernias in the abdomen?
The Obesity Double Whammy Connection to Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the cartilage within our joints around the body begins to degrade, increasing inflammation of the joint and reducing mobility – compromising lifestyle and even causing long-term disability. Osteoarthritis was once mostly limited to the elderly and those that played contact sports or experiencing repeated injury. However, over the past few decades, with the rise of obesity rates in the United States and around the world, osteoarthritis has affected younger and younger patients.
Bariatric Surgery Myth – Bariatric Surgery Is All I Need
Bariatric surgery is an incredibly effective and safe way to help you lose a significant amount of weight – in some cases up to 70 or even 80% of your excess bodyweight. However, the surgery itself does not make this happen – rather it is a catalyst for a new and improved lifestyle involving better diet and exercise habits that you can more easily maintain over the long term. And that’s where a bariatric surgery myth comes into play.
Many patients are concerned that they will be seen as taking the easy way out. It stands to reason when most people believe the bariatric surgery is all you need to lose the weight and keep it off. However, postop patients work very hard to lose that weight and maintain their goal weight over the long term. In fact. The long-term lifestyle change is the biggest determining factor of success.
Interesting Research into Inguinal Hernias
While new technology and technique is revolutionizing hernia repair surgery, the basic risk factors for hernias have been known for a long time and continue to hold true. So, when we come across research that sheds light on the potential causes of hernias and how they develop, it can be exciting.
Northwestern University researchers have found a potential link between increased estrogen levels, lower testosterone levels and development of groin hernias. The change in sex hormone levels, a common occurrence with age, may weaken muscle tissue in the groin area, creating a perfect environment for a hernia.
I’ve Heard About A Sports Hernia – Is That a Real Hernia?
A sports hernia (also known as athletic pubalgia) is an injury with symptoms very similar to an inguinal or groin hernia. Typically, participants in sports requiring quick direction changes or sudden twisting movements may develop a sports hernia. The most common sports that cause this condition are soccer, football, golf, hockey and sometimes basketball.
Dr. Ballard: The CORONADO Study on Outcomes for COVID Patients with Diabetes and Obesity
Early on in the coronavirus pandemic, the Center for Disease Control identified obesity and diabetes as characteristics that increased individual’s risk for severe complications from COVID-19. Now, new research is beginning to clearly demonstrate how these health conditions impact patient’s outcomes. Published in Diabetologia, “Phenotypic characteristics and prognosis of inpatients with COVID-19 and diabetes: the CORONADO study” followed hospitalized COVID-19 patients with diabetes in a nationwide observational study in France. Two important standouts from this research:
- Body Mass Index was independently correlated to severity of COVID-19
- Nearly 11% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with diabetes died within 7 day
Simple Roasted Cauliflower with Creamy Lemon Dip
Cauliflower is a surprisingly versatile vegetable, easily standing in as a lower calorie option for rice, mashes potatoes, crusts, and much more. In this dish, we let the cauliflower shine! Roasting the cauliflower florets with a garlic seasoning creates a simple, but delicious, vehicle for a creamy sauce.
Why Have Weight Loss Surgery Series – AFib
One of the lesser-known consequences of excess weight and obesity is a heart condition known as atrial fibrillation or AFib. This is the most common arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat experienced by Americans and patients around the world. The symptoms of AFib can run the gamut from mild to debilitating, depending on the frequency, intensity and duration of the episodes. Most importantly, however, AFib increases the risk of stroke by up to five times.
Why Have Weight Loss Surgery Series – Diabetes
Diabetes has been definitively linked to obesity. In fact, due to the excess weight and obesity epidemic in the United States, it is estimated that by 2050, up to 33% of all Americans could have diabetes.
Further, with even younger people becoming obese, diabetes has become a problem for young adults and even adolescents that were at far lower risk in the past. The result is a life of needing blood sugar control medication, yo-yo-dieting and experiencing medical complications associated with elevated blood sugar. Further, COVID-19 has shown us that diabetes can even affect our ability to fight off infections and viruses. Recent research has shown poor outcomes in people hospitalized for COVID-19 who also have diabetes.
Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In late June, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) released a statement regarding metabolic and bariatric surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Surgical Association of Mobile, PA echoes their call to safely resume surgery. While the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, so too is the health crisis of obesity in America. Bariatric and Metabolic surgery has been shown as the best treatment for individuals suffering with obesity. Severe obesity both limits the quality of life of patients and can become life-threatening. Bariatric procedures have been put on hold in much of the country during the coronavirus pandemic and deemed “elective.”
