Bariatric surgery for Bardet-Biedl syndrome


Bariatric surgery for Bardet-Biedl syndrome

What is Bardet-Biedl syndrome?

This is a rare genetic disorder that could affect several parts and functions of the body. Family history is the cause for this disorder that appears during infancy and grows when getting older. This could affect both genders and only 1 in 150,000 persons get affected by this disorder.

Bariatric surgery for Bardet-Biedl syndrome

Symptoms and Risks

Bardet-Biedl syndrome could trigger the following symptoms:

  • Retinal issues such as blind spots, tunnel vision or loss of vision totally
  • Extra finger in hand or toe
  • Obesity
  • Learning difficulties
  • Dental issues
  • Difficulties in feeling the smell
  • Kidney, heart, gastrological related issues
  • Type 2 diabetics
  • Infertility in males
  • Emotional immaturity
  • Slowness in motor skill development

Symptoms vary for different individuals even within the same family.

Obesity due to Bardet-Biedl syndrome

Obesity is unable to be traced during the childhood as the babies weigh similar to others. This condition progressively appear due to abnormal disproportionate fat distribution in the body especially in abdomen and chest whereas arms and legs are do not get much muscled.

This condition is created due to excessive eating habits of persons with this disorder combined with less energy spending due to their inability to engage in routine activities like any other individual.

Untreated Bardet-Biedl syndrome increases the obesity level and is associated with severe diseases such as type 2 diabetics, high pressure, cholesterol or any life threatening health issues.

Bariatric surgery for Bardet-Biedl syndrome

Bariatric surgery would be required to control the obesity related to Bardet-Biedl syndrome. However, this is not the only or primary solution. To control obesity one might;

  • adopt dietary habits appropriate to age from early years
  • try out behavioral modifications
  • have the routine of exercise programs

Bariatric surgery for Bardet-Biedl syndrome is the last resort option to treat obesity.

How is it done?

Bariatric surgery helps to control obesity by making changes in the digestive system controlling the amount it can hold and in hormones to manage the absorption level of nutrients. This would be achieved through a gastric band, gastric sleeve or gastric bypass procedure.

Benefits and Risks in Bariatric surgery for Bardet-Biedl syndrome

A bariatric surgery will reduce considerable amount of excess weight eliminating all other related diseases to obesity. Better results from bariatric surgery for Bardet-Biedl syndrome is guaranteed depending on the severity of the condition in an individual.

However, one should be aware that the surgery might bring in digestive difficulties especially a dumping feeling after eating fatty or sugary foods, bowel movement difficulties, lower blood sugar, mal-nutrition, breathing issues, etc. These complications might be for short-term or long-term.

Bariatric surgery for Bardet-Biedl syndrome is only a solution to treat a single consequence of the disorder, that is obesity, and one should not think this surgery is to treat the disorder.

Therefore, continuous monitoring on BMI while having regular checkups on the level of cholesterol, pressure and sugar is extremely essential. For the bariatric surgery to be effective one might look after his lifestyle so as to maintain the outcome of the surgery.