The first gastric bypass successfully conducted by Muscat Private Hospital

A new service by MPH, this is offered to patients who suffer from morbid obesity.

Gastric Bypass is an operation wherein a small pouch is created on the top of the stomach, which is then connected to the small intestine lower than usual.

The result is that patients can eat only one ounce of food at a time and the food bypasses most of the stomach and the top part of the intestine, limiting the number of calories the body absorbs.

The surgery reduces the size of the stomach by well over 90%.

A normal stomach can stretch, sometimes to over 1000 ml, while the pouch of the gastric bypass may be 15 ml in size.

The pouch is usually formed from the part of the stomach which is least susceptible to stretching.

Over time, the functional capacity of the pouch increases; by that time, weight loss has occurred, and the increased capacity serves to allow maintenance of a lower body weight.

Dr El Zaqui Ladha, Consultant General Laparoscopic & Endocrine Surgeon, MPH, explains, "When we performed the operation (name withheld), we did a complete case study and assessed the situation well before suggesting this method. We ensured that the patient was made aware of the process and the related procedures. Once the patient was confident and comfortable, we went ahead with the operation and we can safely say that it has been a successful surgery. The patient is coping well and has seen a weight loss of 8kgs in the first week itself."

Dr Ladha attributes morbid obesity among people to several factors including 'the social habit of eating'.

He feels that since the intake of sweets among the people in the Middle East is higher, it often results in morbid obesity.

According to Dr Ladha, by-pass has the best results on such patients, whereas the gastric banding would work very well on people who have a large intake of food at meals.

Gerard Strong, Hospital Director, MPH says,

"The hospital only considers cases which are genuine. The stomach capacity is reduced and the associated food intake volume by over 90 per cent. It provides a feeling of contented fullness with just a token amount of food. The first of its kind surgery that was recently performed has been very positive with the patient responding well and acquiring the desired results. This surgery is not recommended for all patients who are suffering from being overweight, but in some cases it is the best option for the patient, and we are happy to be able to provide this service for those patients."

Muscat Private Hospital is Muscat's premier private medical facility.

Strategically located in Baushar, the Hospital provides first-class out-patient and in-patient facilities and all the diagnostic and treatment capabilities of an acute care hospital, including CT and MRI.

The CT scan is a 64 slice volume CT which has capability for CT Cardiac Angiography, CT Colonoscopy, Lung Imaging, and Neurological Imaging.

Our new range of services includes Women's Health Services, Executive Health Screening, Critical Care Unit and ER, making the hospital a one-stop shop, convenient and accessible to our patients.

The hospital is the first facility in Oman to provide cardiac surgery services.

The hospital is managed by UME Group, an international hospital management group with more than 27 years experience in the Middle East and the UK.