Obesity is a worldwide health problem. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than one billion people are overweight, which causes an increase in associated diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. This is a problem that affects both rich and developing countries and puts extra pressure on hospital systems.
Often this risk factor can be controlled with the practice of physical activity and healthy diets, but when it is not possible to compensate for it, it becomes a danger to the health of the individual. For this reason, it requires a comprehensive assessment to determine the need for other procedures to achieve metabolic endocrine control. Sometimes, a surgical intervention known as bariatric surgery may be considered necessary, which consists of reducing the capacity of the stomach and altering the intestinal tract to avoid the absorption of fats during the digestive process, by means of different surgical techniques.
The first procedures for the treatment of obesity began in the 1950s. Already in the 90's they began to be performed laparoscopically, which adds to the intrinsic results of the surgery the inherent benefits of the intervention by minimal access, such as more postoperative comfort, better cosmetic results, short hospital stay and rapid reincorporation to normal activities.
Other advantages of minimally invasive surgery are related to postoperative complications. Wound infection and incisional hernias are frequent in obese patients, but as wounds are minimized, these complications are reduced or, if they exist, they are of lesser magnitude. Pulmonary thromboembolism is another frequent manifestation in obese patients; however, the laparoscopic approach favors early mobilization, which significantly reduces its occurrence.
In Cuba, laparoscopic bariatric surgery techniques have been strengthened since the beginning of this century and at present, several institutions certified and accredited by the health system have qualified multidisciplinary teams that carry out an integral evaluation of patients and postoperative follow-up for the effective performance of these procedures.
There are several techniques described for the treatment of obesity, and it is the function of these multidisciplinary teams to propose the most appropriate one for each patient, taking into account age, associated diseases, body mass index, among other aspects.
The achievements of the application of these surgical techniques in Cuba and the prestige of the health professionals who perform them have resulted in an increase of requests from patients from different countries. Surgeons Juan Francisco Rodriguez Reyes, from the Cira Garcia International Clinic, and Miguel Angel Martinez Alfonso, from the National Center for Minimal Access Surgery, both institutions located in Havana, although these services are also provided in the province of Cienfuegos, in the south-central part of the country, attest to that.
The Comercializadora de Servicios Médicos Cubanos S.A. (CSMC, S.A.) has created a facilitating structure to meet the health service requests of people from other countries, with which they can interact in the preparation of their health trip to Cuba, so that they can count on a comprehensive and personalized program from the moment they arrive at the airport until they return to their country.
As an alternative for medical follow-up, CSMC, S.A. guarantees constant communication between the professional and the patient in the post-operative stage through telemedicine in real time.
According to the WHO, the increase in morbid obesity rates, even among children and adolescents, makes it necessary to propose solutions for the medium and long term. The Cuban approach is committed to increasing the competencies of its professionals to guarantee procedures with minimal risks and to add humanistic values that will bring about a favorable change in the lives of patients.By: Redacción JT
Tomado de la Revista Destino Salud