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Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery Vs. Open Bariatric Surgery

Patients who are considered morbidly obese (at least 100 pounds overweight with a body mass index of 35 or greater) often turn to bariatric, also known as gastric bypass, surgery as a life-saving option to enhance weight loss. While there are different kinds of bariatric surgery, all forms aim to restructure the digestive system in order to enhance weight loss. In addition to the procedures, there are two approaches: laparoscopic and open surgery. The benefits and drawbacks of each often depend on the patient and his or her unique needs.

  1. Incision: Open Procedure

    • The original approach to bariatric surgery, open surgery, involves making an incision that starts at the patient's breastbone and ends slightly above the navel. The surgeon then opens the incision in order to access the stomach and intestines. This type of approach is also known as the "traditional" approach as it was pioneered before surgical instruments were invented to navigate smaller incisions, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

    Incisions: Laparoscopic

    • In comparison, a laparoscopic procedure uses four to six incisions that are one to one-and-a-half inch openings through which a surgeon inserts a lighted tube with a camera on the end (known as a laparoscope) and surgical instruments in order to access the abdomen, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

    Recovery Period

    • Because laparoscopic surgery utilizes smaller incisions than open surgery, the recovery time is considered shorter. While the hospital stay can vary based on a number of factors, including patient's health and obesity level, the typical hospital stay for a laparoscopic procedure is one to three days, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Patients also may need to be away from work up to four weeks. Comparatively, the average hospital stay for an open bariatric procedure is about six days, according to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. The recovery period can be anywhere from five to seven weeks.

    Qualifying Patients

    • According to the Cleveland Clinic, more than 95 percent of bariatric patients undergo laparoscopic procedures, mostly due to the shortened recovery times. The remaining patients may not be considered good candidates for laparoscopic surgery if they are extremely obese, have undergone previous surgery on the stomach or have medical complications, such as the need to remove the gallbladder as well, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

    Long-Term

    • In addition to a shorter hospital stay, laparoscopic surgery patients experience less pain following surgery and less scarring when compared to open surgery, according to Docshop.com. Both procedures, however, share similar long-term results following the surgical recovery period; the amount of weight loss should not be affected by the type of surgical approach used.

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