Hepatitis C is a non-curable infection that is transmitted through bodily fluids. Because it affects the liver, some surgeries may not be performed due to the risk of further damaging the liver during or after the surgery. Because weight-loss surgery is an elective surgery, your health-care team will need to thoroughly evaluate your condition before deciding whether to operate.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that is spread through blood and other bodily fluids. There is no vaccination or cure for hepatitis C, but there are treatment options available. Hepatitis C causes inflammation of the liver, and people who are infected with the virus often experience jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, pale or clay-colored stools, loss of appetite, generalized itching and fatigue.
Weight-Loss Surgery
As of December 2009, there are several types of weight-loss surgeries available. The least invasive surgery is the gastric banding. This type of surgery involves placing an adjustable silicone band around the upper portion of the stomach and implanting an attached port in the abdominal wall. Saline is injected through the port, which then fills the band, providing restriction around the upper portion of the stomach. This creates a feeling of fullness and controls food intake, which can lead to successful long-term weight loss.
More invasive types of weight loss surgery include Roux en-Y gastric bypass and variations of the Roux en-Y. These types of surgeries involve surgical cutting of the stomach to create a smaller pouch, and re-routing of the small intestine to decrease the amount of calories that are absorbed.
Do not take the decision to have weight-loss surgery lightly. Weight-loss surgery is a serious surgery that has many potential complications. Do what you can to lose weight by following a well-balanced diet and daily exercise regimen. But if you have exhausted all options and are still morbidly obese, research the various types of weight-loss surgeries to find the one that fits your needs and lifestyle best.
Hepatitis C and Weight-Loss Surgery
Hepatitis C is considered to be a disease of the liver. Depending on the extent of damage done to your liver, surgery may be riskier than it would be for a non-hepatitis C patient, since your liver is responsible for filtering out anesthesia, pain medications and antibiotics. These medications may take longer to metabolize in your body, which in turn could potentially create post-operative problems.
Additionally, certain surgeries that are more likely to cause hemorrhaging may not be recommended for individuals with hepatitis C. While weight-loss surgery does not involve the liver directly, the organ may be moved during the procedure, or it may be inadvertently bumped or nicked with surgical instruments.
Speak to your physician or your surgeon about your diagnosis of hepatitis C and your desire to have weight-loss surgery. The decision to perform surgery on a patient is always determined on an individual basis. While having hepatitis C does not necessarily rule out your ability to have certain surgeries, the extent of the infection and the state of your liver will need to be fully assessed before surgery is decided upon.
