Designed to create a consistent, symmetrical sleeve in a single, continuous staple line, the Titan ™ results in a quicker procedure, shorter hospital stay, and less nausea and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux) after surgery
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – August 27, 2025 – Lovelace Westside Hospital (LWSH) announced today it completed New Mexico’s first sleeve gastrectomy using the Titan SGS™ Stapler to treat severe obesity in patients, helping to improve, prevent or resolve obesity-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and some types of cancer. Benedict Hui, MD, bariatric surgeon with Lovelace Medical Group, performed the procedure, which uses a single, continuous staple line in one deployment, resulting in a quicker procedure, shorter hospital stay and less nausea and Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) after surgery. Dr. Hui brings his years of experience using this new technology to Lovelace.
The gastric sleeve is the most popular weight loss surgery in the U.S. and is performed using surgical staplers to remove 80% of the stomach, making it much smaller. This reduces the amount of food and liquid the stomach can hold, which helps decrease the amount of calories consumed.
“I feel proud to be able to bring my years of experience using the Titan SGS™ Stapler to Lovelace, and being the first bariatric surgeon in the state to use the Titan SGS™ Stapler during a sleeve gastrectomy,” said Dr. Hui. “The stapler reduces surgical time and post-surgical symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and GERD. Over the long run, the sleeve gastrectomy greatly improves my patients’ health and quality of life.”
At 30 days after surgery, patients who had laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with the Titan SGS™ Stapler experienced less nausea or vomiting, compared to patients with multi-fire staplers. The Titan™ helps to reduce GERD at six months and 12 months after surgery and decreases stapling time by 90% compared to traditional staplers. Patients are also more likely to go home within 24 hours after surgery when the Titan™ was used.
“LWSH is proud to be the only hospital in the state of New Mexico to currently provide the Titan SGS™ Stapler for sleeve gastrostomies,” said Sherry Aragon, interim chief executive officer of LWSH. “This is another example of our dedication of our care team and staff to providing the latest technology with the highest quality of care to our patients.”
LWSH is the only hospital in Albuquerque designated as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Bariatric Surgery. Lovelace Bariatrics has been named a Fully Accredited MBSAQIP (Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accredited Quality Improvement Program) by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS). The ASMBS and ACS MBSAQIP was created to recognize bariatric surgery centers that meet the highest standards in the industry.
To learn more about LWSH and its commitment to providing quality and state-of-the art care, please visit lovelace.com. To make an appointment with a Lovelace Medical Group bariatric provider, please call 505-727-2790.
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Contact:
Whitney Alcantar, Lovelace Health System
whitney.alcantar@lovelace.com
Mobile: 505.903.0367
Lovelace Westside Hospital
Lovelace Westside Hospital (LWSH) just celebrated its 40th birthday of serving Rio Rancho and Westside residents of Albuquerque high quality, convenient care. The 92-bed acute care facility includes a 24-hour emergency department where patients typically see a provider in 30 minutes or less. LWSH has been recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) for its commitment to guideline adherence and quality improvement for stroke patients, earning the AHA’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke GOLD PLUS for four years in a row (2021 – 2024). The hospital offers services tailored to everyone in the family, including surgical services, sleep studies, a nationally-accredited bariatrics program and more. Money and the Leapfrog Group named LWSH to their list for 2022 Best Hospitals and Surgery Centers for Billing Ethics, showing its dedication to delivering the highest quality of care for patients, while ensuring adherence to the maximum ethical standards for billing. To learn more about the state-of-the-art treatment options, innovative health care providers and award-winning quality initiatives at Lovelace Westside Hospital, visit lovelace.com.
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