In the past, surgery could only be performed through large, open incisions to provide surgeons with adequate visibility and access. Now, with recent innovations in medical technology, many surgeries can now be performed through incisions only centimeters in length. This minimally invasive surgical approach has many advantages, providing patients with fewer complications, less risk of infection, less pain, and quicker recovery times.

Weight loss procedures are some of the many surgeries that can now be performed on minimally invasive basis. Below are some of the most common laparoscopic weight loss procedures.

• Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
  This procedure can be effective in helping a patient to rapidly lose weight by reducing stomach size and decreasing fat and calorie absorption. To decrease stomach size, staples are placed to create a smaller stomach pouch. Bypassing part of the small intestine inhibits nutrient absorption.
• Adjustable Gastric Banding
  The gastric banding procedure involves placing an inflatable band around the upper part of the stomach, which limits the stomach capacity and increases feelings of fullness. This surgery does not involve any surgical alteration of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Sleeve Gastrectomy
  Much like the gastric banding procedure, sleeve gastrectomy is performed to restrict the capacity of the stomach. The surgeon creates a sleeve-shaped stomach by stapling and removing a part of the stomach. This procedure can also be revised to gastric bypass for increased weight loss.

Are you struggling to lose weight despite healthy changes in diet and activity level? The Center for Bariatric Surgery at West Hills Hospital & Medical Center has been designated by the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. Our experienced surgeons are dedicated to helping our patients regain control of their weight and take a powerful step in the direction of health. To learn more about our program and find a bariatric surgeon in the West Hills community, call our Consult-A-Nurse referral line at (818) 676-4000.

To function normally, the body needs a continuous and adequate supply of oxygen. When the skin and tissues sustain an injury—such as a severe thermal burn, the demand for oxygen increases dramatically to promote the recovery process. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps to increase the amount of oxygen that a person’s blood cells can carry, restoring the normal levels of oxygen in the blood and promoting healing of the burned tissue.

Inside a hyperbaric oxygen tank, patients are exposed to higher levels of pure oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure. Under these conditions, the lungs are able to capture more oxygen than normal and circulate it to the tissue in need of repair.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can provide many benefits to patients suffering from burn injuries. This advanced technology has been shown to:

• Limit the progression of a burn injury
• Reduce the swelling and inflammation of a burn injury
• Reduce recovery times and hospital stay
• Promote new capillary growth and healthy blood flow to new tissue
• Promote the survival of skin grafts used for more severe burns
• Inhibit infection by supporting the development of white blood cells
• Reduce the need for surgical intervention in some cases

By reducing swelling and promoting the fast healing of the burn injury, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can even reduce the appearance of scars. This can help to prevent the long-term physical and emotional scars that many burn patients can suffer as a result of their injury.

At West Hills Hospital & Medical Center, we understand that a burn injury can be a frightening experience. For this reason, the skilled staff of the Grossman Burn Center is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care and making our patients as comfortable as possible during their stay with us. You can learn more about our specialized burn center by calling (818) 676-4000 today.

Distracted driving has become an epidemic in the United States, killing thousands of men, women, and children every year and injuring many more. In this video, you can learn about the experience of one woman who suffered from the effects of distracted driving. On April 27, 2009, Alison Holden was rear-ended by a distracted driver and has suffered the consequences ever since.

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Become a part of the solution by putting your phone away while you are on the road and encouraging others to do the same. Become a part of the solution and end this deadly habit today. For more information about staying healthy, contact West Hills Hospital & Medical Center at (818) 676-4000.

At West Hills Hospital & Medical Center, our goal is to provide the community of West Hills with the highest quality patient care possible. Our cancer care facility helps us to accomplish this goal by offering cancer patients accessible, sophisticated diagnostic and treatment options at a convenient location. Our main cancer care services include:

• Cancer Physician Team
  Our cancer care physicians come from a variety of backgrounds and specialties, from surgical oncology to neurology and urology. This multi-disciplinary team provides each patient with a personalized treatment plan that is created through feedback and input from many different specialties.
   
• Colorectal Cancer
  West Hills recommends that patients over the age of 50 or those with other risk factors for colorectal cancer be screened regularly according to their physician’s recommendation. Our cancer care center offers the men and women of our community various screening options for this disease, including colonoscopy and FOBT.
   
• Diagnostic Imaging
  State-of-the-art diagnostic imaging is vital not only for the treatment of cancer, but also in its early detection. West Hills offers patients the full range of advanced imaging modalities, including MRI and CT scanning.
   
• Lymphedema Management
  Lymphedema is a condition that is caused by the obstruction of the lymph vessels that leads to swelling in the affected area. The specialists leading the Lymphedema Program at West Hills work to help cancer patients better manage their condition through improved education and treatment techniques.
   
• Women’s Diagnostic Center
  The Women’s Diagnostic Center at West Hills provides the women of the San Fernando Valley with the full range of imaging technology in one convenient location. The facility provides access to ultrasound, mammography, DEXA scanning, and much more.

West Hills Hospital & Medical Center has invested millions of dollars into our Cancer Care center to make sure that our patients receive the highest quality of state-of-the-art treatment. If you are in need of an experienced and compassionate cancer specialist or have questions, call our 24-hour Consult-A-Nurse toll free referral line at (818) 676-4000.