Genesis Center for Bariatric Surgery Announces First-in-the-Region Procedure

Davenport, IA - Genesis officials announced today that its Center for Bariatric Surgery has performed the Quad Cities' first laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. This minimally invasive procedure offers patients the benefits of gastric bypass surgery while significantly reducing recovery times, discomfort, and surgical wound complications compared to the more traditional open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

"The laparoscopic procedure is not right for every gastric bypass patient. Our first concern is patient safety and people suffering from serious cardiac or other co-morbidities may be at greater risk from the longer exposure to anesthesia required by the laparoscopic procedure," said Matthew C. Christophersen, M.D., Medical Director of the Genesis Center for Bariatric Surgery and a partner in the Davenport Surgical Group. "However, for many patients the laparoscopic procedure is a dramatic improvement over open surgery that can be more painful; requires a longer period of recovery; and exposes the patient to development of hernias, wound infections, and other complications."

Dr. Christophersen has now performed two laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedures at Genesis Medical Center, Davenport. Christophersen, along with his DSG partner, Michael Phelps, M.D., have successfully performed about 80 successful open gastric bypass surgeries since the Genesis Center opened in 2003. Dr. Calvin Atwell joined the center in July 2004 and also is trained to perform the Roux-en-Y procedure.

According to Teresa Fraker, Manager of the Genesis Center for Bariatric Surgery, many patients have requested the laparoscopic procedure because of the shorter recovery period and reduced risk of surgical complications. There are programs across the country offering the procedure but until now, none locally. Most patients would prefer to stay close to home. "Due to this growing patient preference for the laparoscopic procedure, we have completed the work necessary to offer our patients the minimally invasive procedure," said Fraker.

In order to perfect the technique, Christophersen recently trained at the Montefiore Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery, which is affiliated with Montefiore Medical Center at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. Christophersen, along with his operating team, including Genesis Operating Room staff Pam Perritt, C.S.T., and Bonnie Heydeman, R.N., trained with Julio A. Teixeira, M.D., Director of Bariatric Surgery at the Montefiore Institute. Teixeira has performed more than 600 laparoscopic gastric bypass with Roux-en-Y procedures.

The first laparoscopic gastric bypass patient in the Quad Cities is 52-year-old Barbara Paul of LeClaire. Paul works as a Physical Therapist Assistant at Genesis Medical Center, Davenport. "I love my patients and I love my work," Paul said. "Frankly, I was scared that my weight would prevent me from working in the future." After years of unsuccessful diets and failed exercise programs, Paul knew she had to do something more. With a family history of obesity to consider, Paul contacted the Genesis Center for Bariatric Surgery. "Both my son and daughter-in-law, as well as a cousin and my sister all had gastric bypass surgery and they are doing great," she said. "I knew I was ready to take the next step."

At the time of her initial consultation, the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y procedure was not available anywhere in the Quad Cities. "I didn't want to travel outside the area for my surgery," she explained. "I didn't want to be far away from my job, my home and my family. So, I decided to have the open procedure that has been performed successfully at Genesis in the past. Then, I was contacted by Genesis and told that I might be a candidate for the Center's first laparoscopic procedure. I was thrilled. Hours after surgery, I was walking without any pain medication and that same week I was home raking leaves in the yard. As far as I am concerned, the laparoscopic procedure is a tremendous advance over the open procedure," Paul added.

The most recent patient to undergo the procedure is Debora Davis. Davis is a 43-year-old married homemaker and mother of two. After a lifetime of struggling with her weight, Davis began exploring local gastric bypass options in May 2003. "Overall, I was in pretty good health. But, I did suffer some sleep apnea and my blood pressure was getting worse," said Davis, who lives in Blue Grass. "What really concerned me was my lack of energy. In addition to caring for my own family, my parents and my brother, who was injured in a car accident, live with us, too. In short, my family needs me to be healthy and I was ready to do whatever it takes."

Davis learned of the Genesis program and Christophersen and Phelps through her insurance provider. She attended an information session last July sponsored by Genesis and hosted by pop singer Carnie Wilson of Wilson Phillips. "I was inspired not only by Carnie's success story, but also by the Genesis people I met there. Genesis offers a real 'team' approach that includes everyone from financial counselors to dietitians and therapists who help ensure your long-term success with the surgery and lifestyle changes it requires" Davis said. "With my wonderful husband's support, I decided to go forward with the surgery. Today, I couldn't be happier with my decision."

The Genesis Center for Bariatric Surgery features a multi-disciplinary approach to surgical weight loss. Patients in the Genesis program attend introductory education classes, followed by consultations with the surgeon, nursing staff, pharmacist, dietician, physical therapist and recreational therapist. Candidates for the surgery have consultations with the staff of Genesis Psychology Associates. Only gastric bypass patients who follow the pre-surgery requirements are scheduled for surgery.

Roux-en-Y is the most commonly used gastric bypass procedure. The procedure reroutes a length of the small intestine to connect to a newly created stomach pouch. The rerouting bypasses a portion of the digestive system. The procedure promotes weight loss by limiting food intake, but also decreases the absorption ability of the digestive system.

The laparoscopic Roux-en-Y does not require opening the abdomen of patients. The laparoscopic Roux-en-Y is performed using five or six small incisions, called ports, of one inch or less in length on the abdomen. The surgeon's tools and the camera are inserted through the ports. Fraker said the first two Quad Cities patients each left the hospital two days after their surgery. She said the standard, or open Roux-en-Y, usually requires three days of hospitalization.

Dr. Christophersen is a graduate of Lewis University in Illinois and the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He is a member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, American Medical Association, the Iowa Medical Society and is a Fellow in the American College of Surgery. Dr. Phelps is an Iowa native who graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and from the University of Iowa College of Medicine. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Iowa Medical Society, the Scott County Medical Society, and is a Fellow in the American College of Surgery.