Leading specialists from Australia, Europe and India would deliberate on a series of contentious issues pertaining to obesity and the scientifically surgical procedures that are now being used world-wide in controlling this malady, at the first two days National Congress being organised in Mumbai. The congress is being organised by Obesity Surgery Society of India (OSSI) at the Taj Mahal Hotel on March 1 and 2, 2003. The event will be honoured by Digvijay Khanvilkar, Minister of State for Health, Medical Education & Family Planning, Government of Maharashtra, as the chief guest.
Talking to media in Pune Dr. Srihari Dhorepatil, Organizing Secretary of the Congress and the President of Obesity Surgery Society of India said, "Obesity is assuming epidemic proportions amongst the urban middle class. Unfortunately, in India it is still classified as an indication of prosperity rather than a chronic problem that needs to be addressed seriously." He explained that gastric banding /gastric stapling is a scientifically conceived technique that offers a permanent solution to morbid obesity.
Laparascopic adjustable gastric banding involves the cordoning off of a substantial portion gastric chamber through the use of a surgical band so that the intake capacity is reduced to approx. 20-40 ml. "This way," said Dr. Dhorepatil, "the hunger pangs of those who are prone to gorge on food are stemmed permanently and they begin eating much less not consciously, by following a diet regime, but as a natural outcome of the reduction in the storage space in the gastric chamber."
According to Dr. Dhorepatil, all problems associated with morbid obesity like hypertension, osteo-arthritis, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, Coronary Heart diseases etc. have been known to be controlled with this surgical procedure.
The highlight of the Congress is the demonstration of gastric surgery at Breach Candy Hospital on March 01 (first day) that would be beamed live to audiences at Hotel Taj. Renowned international surgeons Dr. Andrew Jamieson of Box Hill Hospital (Australia), Dr. Anna Maria Wolf of the University Hospital Ulm (Germany), Dr. Martin Fried of the Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery and Obesity Treatment (Czech Republic) and Luigi Angrisani of University of Nals Italy,& others would perform Laparascopic adjustable Gastric banding /Vertical Banded gastroplasty/gastric bypass surgery on patients categorized as morbidly obese (those whose weight is 100% in excess of their normal weight).
The second day would consist of deliberations on a series of issues related to the surgery like the administration of anesthesia in morbid obesity, post surgery diet and complications amongst others.
For registration and other details contact: Dr. Shrihari Dhorepatil 020 -6126917 , 98220 40769, e-mail shrihari@vsnl.com.