HMC showcases bariatric surgery procedure live at obesity conference

Hamad Medical Corporation’s ( HMC) bariatric and metabolic surgery team has shared their expertise with attendees at the world’s biggest obesity conference with a live transmission of a bariatric surgery procedure.

Through a  video link, a first of its kind, HMC experts shared their skills and experiences with their international peers during the 19th World Congress of International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO 2014), in Canada from August 26 to 28, 2014. The conference had more than 5,000 attendees from around the world.

HMC was one of 20 international organisations to present its procedures during the congress. Dr Moataz Bashah, consultant and acting director of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery at Hamad General Hospital (HGH) said the  congress gave surgery centres the opportunity to present their procedures and discuss them with other experts during the congress.

“The Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Centre in Qatar was the first to be chosen from the Middle East region together with counterparts from Japan, South Korea, Europe, and North America. The nomination of Qatar came as a result of scientific research activities undertaken by the team in recent years,” said Dr Bashah.

“More than 800 bariatric procedures, ranging from gastric sleeve to gastric bypass, are performed at by our surgeons each year. We pride ourselves that all of these procedures involve laparoscopic surgery, which means they are minimally invasive and usually permits the patient to recover much faster,” Dr Bashah added.

The waiting lists of obesity surgery patients at HMC facilities have improved remarkably due the increase in operating theatres and streamlining of the procedures involved. Procedures are now performed in a shorter time and more efficiently in HGH and Al Wakra Hospital.

Diabetic patients who undergo gastric bypass surgeries can enjoy many benefits. If newly affected by the disease, their intake of diabetic medications is cut down by 80% following such surgeries. Risks of heart attacks, strokes, and breast and colon cancers are significantly mitigated with such surgeries.

Dr Bashah said while bariatric surgery can help improve outcomes, patients not to rely on surgery as the sole solution to their weight and health issues.

“Obesity procedures should not be the sole option for people to lose weight; it must be coupled with a healthy diet and regular exercise to help them live a healthier and better life,” he said.

Dr Bashah also announced that preparations for the ‘Qatar Obesity Surgery Summit’, which is scheduled to take place in March 2015, are underway. He revealed that experts from North America, Europe, other GCC Countries and the Middle East region will participate in the summit.