Obesity News

We invite you to click on any of the attached news articles and press releases featuring the Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital, our Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery Program and bariatric surgeons Dr. Kelvin Higa and Dr. Keith Boone, as well as new developments in the treatment of obesity and bariatric or minimally-invasive surgery.

Wanda Holderman, the hospital's chief executive officer, routinely updates her blog sharing her unique perspective on a variety of topics.

Finally, you may want to visit MedWatchToday.com, a Web site featuring the award winning show, MedWatch which provides up-to-date health care information.

Revision Bariatric Surgery
Dr. Kelvin Higa wonders what he’ll find when he performs bariatric revision surgery on Michelle Ardire 10 years after her original weight-loss procedure was done by another surgeon. Read more

New studies show bariatric surgery can cure diabetes
“Many people think that bariatric surgery is cosmetic, but that is not true,” said Dr. Boone. “Losing weight helps with general looks, but we perform bariatric surgery to ‘cure’ or improve medical problems that are caused or made worse by obesity. Diabetes is the number one reason for proceeding with bariatric surgery. Read More.

More Video
	Revision Bariatric Surgery	Dr. Kelvin Higa wonders what he’ll find when he performs bariatric revision surgery on Michelle Ardire 10 years after her original weight-loss procedure was done by another surgeon.
	Bariatric revision patient free from stomach pain	The severe stomach pain plaguing Shela Mangasarian kept her from living the active lifestyle she loved. Six years ago, she dropped 118 pounds with the help of Dr. Kelvin Higa, who helped her get to the bottom of her discomfort. “I wouldn’t go to anyone else,” Mangasarian said.
	Bariatric Surgery	Bariatric patient Angela Duran knew her family history meant she might have future health problems if she didn’t take action soon. Because other family members had developed major health problems, Angela decided to take the preventative measure of having bariatric surgery to help with her weight loss. Angela did her research and found Dr. Keith Boone at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital.
	Bariatric Revision Experts Teach Others	More than 40 surgeons from around the nation and two from overseas came to Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital to learn the latest techniques in bariatric revision surgery from pioneers in weight-loss and metabolic surgery. The two-day seminar included lectures, demonstration of the latest in laparoscopic equipment, a practice tissue lab and observation of two gastric bypass revision surgeries done by Dr. Kelvin Higa, medical director of the hospital's Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Program.
	Minimally Invasive Exploratory Surgery	The minimally invasive surgical team performs exploratory surgery on a woman suffering from an unknown condition.
	"Suite" New Setup	Find out how two new high-tech operating rooms called “the best in the world” by one doctor are helping to take patient safety and care to an unprecedented level.
	Not So Precious Stones	A minimally invasive procedure is offering relief for many patients who have found out that gallstones can strike anyone at any age.
	A Second Chance	The Valley's Dr. Kelvin Higa is gaining world-wide attention by educating others about revision bariatric surgery.
	New Nurse Specialty	Two very special Community Medical Centers nurses are leading the way as they bring bariatric specialty to the Valley.
	Diabesity	Jim Flohr of Clovis learned a gastric bypass procedure could cure his diabetes as well as help him with weight loss.
	Through Tiny Incisions	Minimally invasive surgery has been around for many years, but recent technological advancements now make it possible to do almost any operation using this technique.

More Headlines
Bariatric surgery top-rated two years in a row	Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital has received top ratings again for bariatric surgery. HealthGrades, a national health care ratings organization, ranked the hospital third in the state for its patient outcomes and for the second year in a row gave it a 5-star rating, plus a Bariatric Surgery Excellence Award. Dr. Keith Boone, a bariatric surgeon at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital, says the hospital's 5-star rating shows its committment to patients.
Dr. Higa teaches weight-loss surgery internationally	Increasingly, countries with government-run health care or a more socialized medical system are recognizing bariatric surgery is a cost-effective treatment that improves lives and longevity, said Dr. Kelvin Higa, director of Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital’s bariatric program and a frequent lecturer internationally.
Chinese delegation researches Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital technology	Fresno Heart & Surgical showed off the latest in operating room technology on March 8 to a delegation from China being sponsored by the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at California State University, Fresno.
Another 5-star award for vascular surgery	For the second year in a row, Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital has received a 5-star rating for the quality of its vascular care from HealthGrades®, a national independent health care ratings organization. Vascular surgeon Randall G. Stern said “It’s reassuring to patients that a surgery that’s high risk is done as well here as it’s done anywhere in the country and that they don’t have to leave Fresno to have it done.”
5-star rating for Bariatric Program	HealthGrades has awarded Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital's weight loss surgery program a 5-star rating, and a Bariatric Excellence Award™, to put it among the state’s top five hospitals for bariatric surgery.
Patient experience rated tops again	For the second year in a row, Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital has been named among the nation's top 5% in patient experience by HealthGrades, the nation's leading, independent health care ratings organization.
Dr. Higa completes ASMBS term	Dr. Kelvin Higa said he has seen focus switch from bariatric surgery’s potential complications to its benefits during his tenure as president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
Dr. Boone Speaks at Great Britain Bariatric Conference	Great Britain’s upper-gastrointestinal surgeons invited Dr. Keith Boone to share his experiences with weight-loss surgery for the elderly and teens, and to outline the best bariatric procedures for diabetics.
Nurses Week Q&A with CNO Cervantes	Cynthia Cervantes, chief nursing officer at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital, got her first nursing job during National Nurses Week in 1986. Nearing the anniversary of her nurse’s pinning, Cervantes sat down to talk about her profession and her passion.
New CPR machine saves critical patients	New technology at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital is helping revive critically ill patients and freeing nurses for more vital tasks during emergencies. The AutoPulse takes over the work of chest compression during cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
California’s cleanest hospital	Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital has been named California’s cleanest hospital and ranked among the top 7% cleanest hospitals in the nation.
High-tech OR rooms	Two new, high-tech operating rooms were unveiled, providing ideal amenities and features for minimally-invasive surgeries.
"Scareless" Surgery Used for GERD, Gastric Bypass	Dr. Kelvin Higa, known for his expertise in minimally invasive and bariatric weight-loss surgery, has begun performing natural orifice or “scarless” abdominal operations.
Fifth anniversary celebration	Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital celebrated its 5th anniversary with a salute to 115 out of 212 original employees who have been with the hospital since its beginning.
CEO adds FACHE to achievements	Congratulate Wanda Holderman, Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital's CEO, for earning top professional honors.