Metropolitan General provides all necessary medical equipment and infrastructure for the safe and effective treatment of morbidly obese patients.
Obesity is a severe medical condition
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity is a disease which reduces life expectancy, causes complications, and affects psychology and quality of life. The most common complications include hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, sleep apnea, back and joint pain, etc. Furthermore, obesity increases the incidences of certain types of cancer.
Obesity is defined as the excessive accumulation of body fat and is measured by the Body Mass Index (BMI); a person with BMI 30 or higher is considered obese.
In Greece, it is estimated that about 7,000 people die annually due to a cause linked to obesity. Life expectancy of a middle-aged person with BMI higher than 40 is reduced by 10 years compared to a normal weight person.
Obesity: a curable desease
According to WHO “surgery is the most effective method to treat severe obesity with life- long results.” Today, the benefits of surgically treated obesity with BMI 35 or higher, in certain cases with BMI 32 or higher, is a fact. All procedures are performed laparoscopically, i.e. with minimal incisions.
Bariatric surgery
There are several bariatric procedures, and each of them corresponds to a different case, depending on patients’ characteristics and medical, nutritional and psychological history. Below the main procedures performed at Metropolitan General are presented:
Longitudinal gastrectomy (sleeve gastrectomy)
It consists of the resection of the gastric fundus. The remaining part of the stomach resembles a cylinder-shaped sleeve with significantly less food intake capacity. The therapeutic impact of this procedure is dual: first, food intake is reduced. Secondly, the production of ghrelin, the bulimia-related hormone, is diminished.
Gastric bypass
In this procedure, the stomach capacity is reduced, while at the same time food is transferred to the small intestine faster, bypassing part of the stomach and intestine. Thus, the feeling of fullness is achieved with a smaller amount of food, while caloric absorption is also decreased.
Gastric band
The band is placed to the upper part of the stomach and mechanically restricts food intake. It requires either short or one day hospital stay. However, the patient must reduce sweet and soft drinks consumption and avoid nibbling. Timely adjustment of the band is of outmost importance.
Biliopancreatic diversion
This technique results in significant weight loss but it can be followed by complications, such as diarrhea in case of fatty food consumption. This procedure is performed in a small number of patients with specific indications.
Gastric plication
It is a recent method referring to the plication (folding) of the gastric fundus to reduce stomach capacity. The long-term effect of the method has not been evaluated yet.
Contact Number: +30 210 650 2000
