It is now possible to undergo surgical treatment for obesity at Na Františku Hospital
Patients from across the Czech Republic who are struggling with obesity and its health complications can now receive treatment at the surgical department of Na Františku Hospital, which is beginning to perform the full range of bariatric procedures, including revision surgeries. Obesity, which is considered a serious chronic disease, affects more than 20% of men and 17% of women in the Czech Republic. Na Františku Hospital plans to perform surgery on approximately 250 obese patients per year.
“Na Františku Hospital is stable and continues to successfully expand the care it provides, most recently through bariatric surgery, which is a surgical form of obesity treatment,” said Petr Hejma, mayor of Prague 1, noting that the city council has already begun gradually releasing funds for this treatment from a total of 3.5 million crowns allocated for this purpose this year.
The establishment of a metabolic and bariatric unit within the surgical department at Na Františku Hospital is part of the hospital’s development plan, which takes into account both patient needs and current trends in medicine. “I am pleased that we have recruited an experienced specialist like Dr. Michael Vraný for our bariatric surgery program. I believe that he and his team will succeed in building one of the largest centers for metabolic and bariatric surgery in the Czech Republic at our hospital,” said David Erhart, head of the surgical department and director of Na Františku Hospital.
According to surgeon Michael Vraný, Na Františku Hospital will primarily perform bypass surgeries, which involve not only reducing the size of the stomach but also bypassing a section of the small intestine, thereby reducing the surface area available for nutrient absorption. This procedure triggers certain metabolic changes in the body that treat not only obesity but also certain associated conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea syndrome, or polycystic ovary syndrome in women.
Bypass surgery has a significant effect on obese patients with diabetes. “Patients with type 2 diabetes who are treated with conservative methods—medications or insulin—in most cases go home after surgery with only their basic medications. Insulin administration is no longer necessary for them afterward,” explained Vraný. He also added that a different type of surgery is appropriate for each patient. This is always determined based on a comprehensive examination of the patient, including a specialized psychological evaluation, and an assessment of all factors that influence the outcome of the procedure.
The success of treatment depends not only on a flawlessly performed surgical procedure and its appropriate selection for a specific patient, but first and foremost on the patient’s cooperation. “It is very important for the patient to cooperate with their treating physicians over the long term after surgery and to follow the recommendations they provide. In particular, the patient needs to change their eating habits, increase physical activity, and focus on a positive self-image,” noted Vraný, who has more than twenty years of experience treating obese patients.
Bariatric surgery is suitable for patients whose lives are made difficult by obesity but who are unable to address it in any other way, even with the help of an obesity specialist or a nutritionist. The medical indication for surgery is a body mass index (BMI) over 40, or possibly lower if the patient suffers from other associated conditions or needs to lose weight, for example, prior to orthopedic surgery. The procedure is covered by health insurance.
Photos from the press conference marking the opening of the bariatric unit at NNF:
