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New York City Surgeon Performs Weight Loss Surgery
in a Replay of a Live Webcast. First aired: 5pm - June 23, 2003 NEW YORK - Popular NBC weatherman Al Roker continues to shed pounds since he underwent a popular weight loss surgical procedure last year known as gastric bypass surgery. His ongoing success with weight loss is easy for millions of American television watchers to see. But now, the American public can view the actual surgery, performed via the replay of a live Webcast from Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, first viewed on June 23 from 5pm to 6pm. The live Webcast is free of charge.
"Morbid obesity is a chronic disease associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing problems and/or arthritis that can lead to further complications and death if not properly managed," said Rosser, who is also the director of the Advanced Medical Technology Institute (AMTI) at Beth Israel. "Because of the high failure rate associated with dietary treatment, gastric bypass is the most effective method for obtaining sustained weight loss in severely obese people. Research is proving it to be the single most effective treatment for morbidly obese individuals." By restricting the intake of food into a smaller stomach and re-routing it through the small intestines, gastric bypass surgery affects the amount of food absorption, and changes the way the body uses energy. Long-term studies show that the majority of patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery may attain extensive weight loss, typically between 50 to 75 percent of their excess weight over a period of 12 to 18 months. Complications of obesity, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, arthritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (heartburn) improve markedly or disappear completely. The weight regained after five years is only five percent of that lost. Gastric bypass surgery has been endorsed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the World Health Organization, The American Obesity Association, the American Heart Association, and Shape Up America. During the live Webcast, Rosser performs the surgery via a minimally invasive procedure known as laparoscopy, where several, small surgical incisions are made instead of one long incision, as in conventional "open" surgery. The result is significantly less post-operative pain, risk of infection and recovery time. Recovery time, which can be months long when operated on through "open" procedures, can be reduced to weeks. During laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery, the surgeon makes five or six tiny keyhole incisions over the stomach area. A very small video camera called a laparoscope, which sends images to an external video screen, is inserted into the body through one of the incisions. Hollow tubes called "ports" are inserted into the other small incisions. The tools used in laparoscopic surgery - designed like traditional surgical instruments but on a much smaller scale - are passed through the ports and into the body. These tools function like "joysticks" that a surgeon maneuvers to perform the surgery, while watching what he is doing on the external video screen. Dr. Rosser is an internationally renowned laparoscopic surgeon and has traveled the globe lecturing and teaching his techniques. He joined Beth Israel in 2002 after spending eight years at Yale University School of Medicine, where he served as director of the Yale Endo-Laparoscopic Center in the department of surgery, and associate professor of surgery. For medical professionals wishing to tune in, Beth Israel Medical Center has designated this continuing medical education activity for category 1 credits in the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. The webcast uses Realplayer to display both video and synchronized slides in side by side windows. Viewers can download a free copy of the player here. It is not necessary to purchase any of Real's premium players or subscription plans. The free basic player is all that is required to view the surgery. | ||||
