Vivek Prachand, M.D.

Research Summary

Dr. Vivek Prachand is an expert in minimally-invasive gastrointestinal surgery with a special interest in minimally invasive obesity surgery. In addition to performing the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, Adjustable Gastric Banding, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy procedures, in 2002 he was the first surgeon in the Midwest to perform a totally laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, and is one of a handful of surgeons in the world who regularly performs the laparoscopic duodenal switch for “super-obese” and “super-super-obese” patients (individuals with BMI > 50 kg/m2 and BMI > 60 kg/m2, respectively). Of particular interest to Dr. Prachand is the development of an evidence-based algorithm for bariatric procedure selection based on the severity of obesity and its associated co-morbidities, particularly in the setting of super-obesity, which is the group most rapidly increasing in prevalence and which historically has been the most difficult to treat medically or surgically. Accordingly, a major research interest of Dr. Prachand’s is the comparative examination of the mechanisms and effects of the different bariatric procedures on the pathophysiology of obesity and its related comorbidities, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux.

Selected Papers

Prachand VN, Ward MC, Alverdy JA. Duodenal Switch Provides Superior Resolution of Metabolic Comorbidities Independent of Weight Loss in the Super-Obese Compared with Gastric Bypass. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, manuscript in press (2009 DDW SSAT Plenary Session).

Waggoner D, Kang L, Marty D, Pauli R, Mendelsohn N, Prachand VN. Chondrodysplasia Punctata Associated with Malabsorption from Bariatric Procedures. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, manuscript in press.

Pannain S, Leproult R, Saaresranta T, Miller MA, Whitmore H, Alverdy J, Prachand VN, Van Cauter E. Sleep Fragmentation and Reduced Intensity of NREM Sleep in Morbidly Obese Adults Without Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Inter J Obesity, in press.

Prachand VN, Alverdy JC. The Role of Malabsorption in Bariatric Surgery. World Journal of Surgery 2009. Jun 10. [Epub ahead of print].

Gemmel K, Santry HP, Prachand VN, Alverdy JC. Vitamin D Deficiency in Pre-Operative Bariatric Surgery Patients. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases 2009 5(1):54-59.

Alverdy,JC, Prachand VN, Flanagan B, Thistlethwaite WA, Siegler M, Garfinkel M, Angelos P, Agarwal S, Santry H. Bariatric Surgery: A History of Empiricism, a Future in Science. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, 2008 Nov 13 [Epub ahead of print].

Prachand VN. Laparoscopic Duodenal Switch and Other Modalities, in Mastery of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgery, Soper NJ, Swanstrom LL, eds: Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 3rd Edition, 2008.

Piano G, Ketteler ER, Prachand VN, DeValk E, Van Ha TG, Gewertz BL, Alverdy JC. Safety, Feasibility, and Outcome of Retrievable Vena Cava Filters in High Risk Surgical Patients. J Vasc Surg 2007;45:784-8.

Prachand VN, DaVee R and Alverdy J. Duodenal Switch Provides Superior Weight Loss in the Super-obese (BMI ≥ 50) Compared to Gastric Bypass. Annals of Surgery, 244(4):611-619, 2006.

Practice Guidelines for the Perioperative Management of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: a report by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Perioperative Management of patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Anesthesiology, 104(5):1081-1093, 2006.
http://www.asahq.org/publicationsAndServices/sleepapnea103105.pdf

Alverdy JC and Prachand VN. “Patient Selection in Bariatric Surgery” in Surgical Management of Obesity, Buchwald H, ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Science, 2006.