Beth Israel and slp3D present Live Webcast of New York City Surgeon to Perform Weight Loss Surgery on the Internet

NEW YORK, NY June 18, 2003 – Popular NBC weatherman Al Roker continues to shed pounds since he underwent a popular weight loss surgical procedure last year known as gastric bypass surgery. His ongoing success with weight loss is easy for millions of American television watchers to see. But now, the American public can view the actual surgery, performed via a live Webcast from Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, on June 23 from 5pm to 6pm. The live Webcast is free and can be viewed at www.or-live.com/bethisrael/1111.

James (Butch) Rosser, MD, director of minimally invasive surgery at Beth Israel, who himself underwent bariatric surgery in August 2001 (and has since lost 150 pounds), will perform the surgery, which is designed for the more than five million Americans who suffer from clinically severe, or morbid, obesity.

“Morbid obesity is a chronic disease associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing problems and/or arthritis that can lead to further complications and death if not properly managed,” said Rosser, who is also the director of the Advanced Medical Technology Institute (AMTI) at Beth Israel. “Because of the high failure rate associated with dietary treatment, gastric bypass is the most effective method for obtaining sustained weight loss in severely obese people, with research proving it to be the single most effective treatment for morbidly obese individuals.”

By restricting the intake of food into a smaller stomach and re-routing it through the small intestines, gastric bypass surgery affects the amount of food absorption, and changes the way the body uses energy. Long-term studies show that the majority of patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery may attain extensive weight loss, typically between 50 to 75 percent of their excess weight over a period of 12 to 18 months. Complications of obesity, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, arthritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (heartburn) improve markedly or disappear completely. The weight regained after five years is only five percent of that lost. Gastric bypass surgery has been endorsed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the World Health Organization, The American Obesity Association, the American Heart Association, and Shape Up America.

During the live Webcast, Rosser will perform the surgery via a minimally invasive procedure known as laparoscopy, where several, small surgical incisions are made instead of one long incision, as in conventional “open” surgery. The result is significantly less post-operative pain, risk of infection and recovery time. Recovery time, which can be months long when operated on through “open” procedures, can be reduced to weeks.

During laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery, the surgeon makes five or six tiny keyhole incisions over the stomach area. A very small video camera called a laparoscope, which sends images to an external video screen, is inserted into the body through one of the incisions. Hollow tubes called “ports” are inserted into the other small incisions. The tools used in laparoscopic surgery – designed like traditional surgical instruments but on a much smaller scale – are passed through the ports and into the body. These tools function like “joysticks” that a surgeon maneuvers to perform the surgery, while watching what he is doing on the external video screen.

Dr. Rosser is an internationally renowned laparoscopic surgeon and has traveled the globe lecturing and teaching his techniques. He joined Beth Israel in 2002 after spending eight years at Yale University School of Medicine, where he served as director of the Yale Endo-Laparoscopic Center in the department of surgery, and associate professor of surgery.

For medical professionals wishing to tune in, Beth Israel Medical Center has designated this continuing medical education activity for category 1 credits in the AMA Physician's Recognition Award.

To Access Webcast: www.or-live.com/bethisrael/1111

Contact Information:

Bruce Lander – Beth Israel Medical Center
212-523-6069
blander@chpnet.org

Carol Green – slp3D
Director of Marketing
860-953-2900 x214
cgreen@slp3d.com



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