Kelvin Higa, MD, FACS

Title(s)Clinical Professor, Surgery - Fresno
SchoolSchool of Medicine
Address155 N Fresno St
Fresno CA 93701
Phone559-459-3722
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    University of California, San Francisco, CA2019Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training

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    Kelvin D. Higa, M.D., FACS

    Clinical Professor

    Dr. Higa graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine in 1983. He is board certified in general surgery. After completing his residency training in 1988, he served as Chief of Vascular Surgery at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Fresno. In 1990, he entered private practice but has continued to devote a large amount of his time to teaching while also serving as Chief of Surgery for Community Medical Centers as well as Saint Agnes Medical Center.

    Dr. Higa has performed open bariatric surgical procedures since the early 1990s. He and his partner Dr. Boone performed the first laparoscopic gastric bypass in the Central Valley in 1998. The two also pioneered the current technique used by many surgeons throughout the world. He and Professor Paul O’Brien from Australia performed the very first adjustable gastric band in Fresno.

    Dr. Higa specializes in difficult and challenging cases, including revision bariatric surgery. He serves as associate editor for many peer-reviewed journals and has authored many original articles and book chapters regarding bariatric surgery and complication management. In addition to his title of clinical professor of surgery at the University of California San Francisco – Fresno Medical Education Program, Dr. Higa has been appointed to the National Faculty for Bariatric Surgery by the American College of Surgeons. He is also past president for the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and continues to chair many international conferences devoted to bariatric surgery.

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    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
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    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Current recommendations for procedure selection in class I and II obesity developed by an expert modified Delphi consensus. Sci Rep. 2024 02 11; 14(1):3445. Kermansaravi M, Chiappetta S, Parmar C, Shikora SA, Prager G, LaMasters T, Ponce J, Kow L, Nimeri A, Kothari SN, Aarts E, Abbas SI, Aly A, Aminian A, Bashir A, Behrens E, Billy H, Carbajo MA, Clapp B, Chevallier JM, Cohen RV, Dargent J, Dillemans B, Faria SL, Neto MG, Garneau PY, Gawdat K, Haddad A, ElFawal MH, Higa K, Himpens J, Husain F, Hutter MM, Kasama K, Kassir R, Khan A, Khoursheed M, Kroh M, Kurian MS, Lee WJ, Loi K, Mahawar K, McBride CL, Almomani H, Melissas J, Miller K, Misra M, Musella M, Northup CJ, O'Kane M, Papasavas PK, Palermo M, Peterson RM, Peterli R, Poggi L, Pratt JSA, Alqahtani A, Ramos AC, Rheinwalt K, Ribeiro R, Rogers AM, Safadi B, Salminen P, Santoro S, Sann N, Scott JD, Shabbir A, Sogg S, Stenberg E, Suter M, Torres A, Ugale S, Vilallonga R, Wang C, Weiner R, Zundel N, Angrisani L, De Luca M. PMID: 38341469; PMCID: PMC10858961.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    2. A Matched Comparative Analysis of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Remission Between Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy. Surg Innov. 2024 Apr; 31(2):148-156. Hage K, Ma P, Ghusn W, Ikemiya K, Acosta A, Vierkant RA, Abu Dayyeh BK, Higa KD, Ghanem OM. PMID: 38252529.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    3. Surgical Management of Bariatric Complications and Weight Regain. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2023 12; 52(4):707-717. Higa K. PMID: 37919022.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    4. FIB-4 Reliability in Patients With Severe Obesity: Lower Cutoffs Needed? J Clin Gastroenterol. 2023 Nov 03. Green V, Lin J, McGrath M, Lloyd A, Ma P, Higa K, Roytman M. PMID: 37983815.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
    5. Type 2 diabetes remission after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a multicentered experience with long-term follow-up. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2023 Dec; 19(12):1339-1345. Hage K, Ikemiya K, Ghusn W, Lu L, Kennel KA, McKenzie TJ, Kellogg TA, Abu Dayyeh BK, Higa KD, Spaniolas K, Ma P, Ghanem OM. PMID: 37914608.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    6. The role of diabetes severity scores in predicting disease remission in patients with BMI > 50 kg/m2 undergoing Roux-En-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy: a multi-centered study. Surg Endosc. 2023 09; 37(9):7114-7120. Ghusn W, Ma P, Ikemiya K, Hage K, Abboud DM, Vierkant RA, Kendrick ML, Higa K, Acosta A, Ghanem OM. PMID: 37311891.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    7. Diabetes Mellitus Remission in Patients with BMI > 50 kg/m2 after Bariatric Surgeries: A Real-World Multi-Centered Study. Obes Surg. 2023 06; 33(6):1838-1845. Ghusn W, Ikemiya K, Al Annan K, Acosta A, Dayyeh BKA, Lee E, Spaniolas K, Kendrick M, Higa K, Ma P, Ghanem OM. PMID: 37118640.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    8. Effect of metabolic surgery on immunosuppressive medication use in patients with rheumatic diseases. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2022 Sep 06. Ma P, Vahibe A, McKenzie T, Hurtado Andrade MD, Vierkant RA, Higa K, Kendrick M, Ghanem OM. PMID: 36202738.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    
    9. Defining Global Benchmarks in Elective Secondary Bariatric Surgery Comprising Conversional, Revisional, and Reversal Procedures. Ann Surg. 2021 11 01; 274(5):821-828. Gero D, Vannijvel M, Okkema S, Deleus E, Lloyd A, Lo Menzo E, Tadros G, Raguz I, San Martin A, Kraljevic M, Mantziari S, Frey S, Gensthaler L, Sammalkorpi H, Garcia-Galocha JL, Zapata A, Tatarian T, Wiggins T, Bardisi E, Goreux JP, Seki Y, Vonlanthen R, Widmer J, Thalheimer A, Kasama K, Himpens J, Hollyman M, Welbourn R, Aggarwal R, Beekley A, Sepulveda M, Torres A, Juuti A, Salminen P, Prager G, Iannelli A, Suter M, Peterli R, Boza C, Rosenthal R, Higa K, Lannoo M, Hazebroek EJ, Dillemans B, Clavien PA, Puhan M, Raptis DA, Bueter M. PMID: 34334637.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    10. Development of an International Standardized Curriculum for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Teaching Utilizing Modified Delphi Methodology. Obes Surg. 2021 10; 31(10):4257-4263. Blackham RE, Rosenthal RJ, Higa K, Gagner M, Grantcharov TP, Hamdorf JM. PMID: 34296371.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    11. IFSO Update Position Statement on One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB). Obes Surg. 2021 07; 31(7):3251-3278. De Luca M, Piatto G, Merola G, Himpens J, Chevallier JM, Carbajo MA, Mahawar K, Sartori A, Clemente N, Herrera M, Higa K, Brown WA, Shikora S. PMID: 33939059.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 24     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    12. Bariatric-Metabolic Surgery Utilisation in Patients With and Without Diabetes: Data from the IFSO Global Registry 2015-2018. Obes Surg. 2021 06; 31(6):2391-2400. Welbourn R, Hollyman M, Kinsman R, Dixon J, Cohen R, Morton J, Ghaferi A, Higa K, Ottosson J, Pattou F, Al-Sabah S, Anvari M, Himpens J, Liem R, Våge V, Walton P, Brown W, Kow L. PMID: 33638756; PMCID: PMC8113173.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    13. The IFSO Worldwide One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass Survey: Techniques and Outcomes? Obes Surg. 2021 Apr; 31(4):1411-1421. Haddad A, Bashir A, Fobi M, Higa K, Herrera MF, Torres AJ, Himpens J, Shikora S, Ramos AC, Kow L, Nimeri AA. PMID: 33517557.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    14. Barrett's Oesophagus and Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery-IFSO 2020 Position Statement. Obes Surg. 2021 Mar; 31(3):915-934. Fisher OM, Chan DL, Talbot ML, Ramos A, Bashir A, Herrera MF, Himpens J, Shikora S, Higa KD, Kow L, Brown WA. PMID: 33460005.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 11     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    15. Single Anastomosis Duodenal-Ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy/One Anastomosis Duodenal Switch (SADI-S/OADS) IFSO Position Statement-Update 2020. Obes Surg. 2021 Jan; 31(1):3-25. Brown WA, de Leon Ballesteros GP, Ooi G, Higa K, Himpens J, Torres A, Shikora S, Kow L, Herrera MF, IFSO appointed task force reviewing the literature on SADI-S/OADS. PMID: 33409979.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    16. IFSO Position Statement on the Role of Esophago-Gastro-Duodenal Endoscopy Prior to and after Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Procedures. Obes Surg. 2020 Aug; 30(8):3135-3153. Brown WA, Johari Halim Shah Y, Balalis G, Bashir A, Ramos A, Kow L, Herrera M, Shikora S, Campos GM, Himpens J, Higa K. PMID: 32472360.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 32     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    17. Laparoscopic modified Nissen fundoplication over Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and hiatal hernia repair for intractable gastroesophageal reflux. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2020 Nov; 16(11):1877-1878. Ma P, Higa K. PMID: 32763105.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    18. Laparoscopic resection of intussusception after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: comparison between the conventional and a simplified approach. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2020 Sep; 16(9):1376-1377. Shuchleib A, Ma P, Boone K, Higa K. PMID: 32611491.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    19. Complications of Roux-En-O gastric bypass. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2020 Jul; 16(7):967-968. Ma P, Higa K. PMID: 32371035.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    20. Laparoscopic revision of a transected silastic vertical gastric bypass (Fobi pouch) with totally hand sewn gastrojejunostomy for complicated marginal ulcer. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2020 May; 16(5):704. Abunnaja S, Ma P, Higa K. PMID: 32107169.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    21. Defining Global Benchmarks in Bariatric Surgery: A Retrospective Multicenter Analysis of Minimally Invasive Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy. Ann Surg. 2019 11; 270(5):859-867. Gero D, Raptis DA, Vleeschouwers W, van Veldhuisen SL, Martin AS, Xiao Y, Galvao M, Giorgi M, Benois M, Espinoza F, Hollyman M, Lloyd A, Hosa H, Schmidt H, Garcia-Galocha JL, van de Vrande S, Chiappetta S, Menzo EL, Aboud CM, Lüthy SG, Orchard P, Rothe S, Prager G, Pournaras DJ, Cohen R, Rosenthal R, Weiner R, Himpens J, Torres A, Higa K, Welbourn R, Berry M, Boza C, Iannelli A, Vithiananthan S, Ramos A, Olbers T, Sepúlveda M, Hazebroek EJ, Dillemans B, Staiger RD, Puhan MA, Peterli R, Bueter M. PMID: 31592894.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 33     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    22. Reduction of opioid use after implementation of enhanced recovery after bariatric surgery (ERABS). Surg Endosc. 2020 05; 34(5):2184-2190. Ma P, Lloyd A, McGrath M, Moore R, Jackson A, Boone K, Higa K. PMID: 31342260.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    23. Efficacy of liposomal bupivacaine versus bupivacaine in port site injections on postoperative pain within enhanced recovery after bariatric surgery program: a randomized clinical trial. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2019 Sep; 15(9):1554-1562. Ma P, Lloyd A, McGrath M, Shuchleib Cung A, Akusoba I, Jackson A, Swartz D, Boone K, Higa K. PMID: 31375443.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    24. Reversal of Roux en Y gastric bypass: largest single institution experience. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2019 08; 15(8):1311-1316. Ma P, Ghiassi S, Lloyd A, Haddad A, Boone K, DeMaria E, Higa K. PMID: 31262648.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    25. Duodenal switch in revisional bariatric surgery: conclusions from an expert consensus panel. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2019 Jun; 15(6):894-899. Merz AE, Blackstone RB, Gagner M, Torres AJ, Himpens J, Higa KD, Rosenthal RJ, Lloyd A, DeMaria EJ. PMID: 31076367.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    26. Reoperative surgery for nonresponders and complicated sleeve gastrectomy operations in patients with severe obesity. An international expert panel consensus statement to define best practice guidelines. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2019 Feb; 15(2):173-186. Kichler K, Rosenthal RJ, DeMaria E, Higa K. PMID: 31010649.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    27. Single Anastomosis Duodenal-Ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy/One Anastomosis Duodenal Switch (SADI-S/OADS) IFSO Position Statement. Obes Surg. 2018 05; 28(5):1207-1216. Brown WA, Ooi G, Higa K, Himpens J, Torres A, IFSO-appointed task force reviewing the literature on SADI-S/OADS. PMID: 29572769.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 17     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    28. Editorial: Single Anastomosis Procedures, IFSO Position Statement. Obes Surg. 2018 05; 28(5):1186-1187. Higa K, Brown W, Himpens J. PMID: 29761261.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
    29. The Reality of Long-term Follow-up of Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery Patients-A Conundrum. JAMA Surg. 2018 05 01; 153(5):435. Higa KD, Himpens J. PMID: 29214300.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    30. Mini Gastric Bypass-One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (MGB-OAGB)-IFSO Position Statement. Obes Surg. 2018 05; 28(5):1188-1206. De Luca M, Tie T, Ooi G, Higa K, Himpens J, Carbajo MA, Mahawar K, Shikora S, Brown WA. PMID: 29600339.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 79     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    31. Bariatric Surgery Worldwide: Baseline Demographic Description and One-Year Outcomes from the Second IFSO Global Registry Report 2013-2015. Obes Surg. 2018 02; 28(2):313-322. Welbourn R, Pournaras DJ, Dixon J, Higa K, Kinsman R, Ottosson J, Ramos A, van Wagensveld B, Walton P, Weiner R, Zundel N. PMID: 28822052.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 60     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    32. Conversion of standard Roux-en-Y gastric bypass to distal bypass for weight loss failure and metabolic syndrome: 3-year follow-up and evolution of technique to reduce nutritional complications. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2018 05; 14(5):554-561. Ghiassi S, Higa K, Chang S, Ma P, Lloyd A, Boone K, DeMaria EJ. PMID: 29567059.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 21     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    33. IFSO Position Statement on New Technologies for Treatment of Obesity : The International Federation for Surgery of Obesity (IFSO) and Its New Technologies Committee. Endorsed by the Ethical Committee of IFSO, Approved by the IFSO Executive Council on May, 3, 2017. Obes Surg. 2017 09; 27(9):2456-2459. Dargent J, Vilallonga R, Katz L, Portenier D, Wilson E, Esacalona A, Himpens J, Zundel N, Higa K. PMID: 28685364.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
    34. Revisional Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery: What Dictates Its Indications? Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2016 Jul; 18(7):42. Ma P, Reddy S, Higa KD. PMID: 27221504.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    35. Laparoscopic revision of distal Roux-en-Y gastric bypass to duodenal switch for weight loss failure and symptoms. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2015 Jan-Feb; 11(1):259-61. Moon C, Ghiassi S, Higa K. PMID: 25595920.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    36. International Sleeve Gastrectomy Expert Panel Consensus Statement: best practice guidelines based on experience of >12,000 cases. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2012 Jan-Feb; 8(1):8-19. Rosenthal RJ, International Sleeve Gastrectomy Expert Panel, Diaz AA, Arvidsson D, Baker RS, Basso N, Bellanger D, Boza C, El Mourad H, France M, Gagner M, Galvao-Neto M, Higa KD, Himpens J, Hutchinson CM, Jacobs M, Jorgensen JO, Jossart G, Lakdawala M, Nguyen NT, Nocca D, Prager G, Pomp A, Ramos AC, Rosenthal RJ, Shah S, Vix M, Wittgrove A, Zundel N. PMID: 22248433.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 344     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    37. Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 10-year follow-up. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2011 Jul-Aug; 7(4):516-25. Higa K, Ho T, Tercero F, Yunus T, Boone KB. PMID: 21333610.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 146     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    38. Surgery for diabetes? Medscape J Med. 2008 Apr 25; 10(4):101. Higa KD. PMID: 18504499; PMCID: PMC2390710.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    39. [Mesenteric closure in laparoscopic gastric bypass: surgical technique and literature review]. Cir Esp. 2007 Aug; 82(2):77-88. Higa K, Boone K, Arteaga González I, López-Tomassetti Fernández E. PMID: 17785141.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    40. Invited commentary. The gastric remnant and duodenum after gastric bypass are accessible via combined laparoscopic/endoscopic techniques. Obes Surg. 2007 Mar; 17(3):419. Higa KD. PMID: 17546854.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    41. Medicolegal analysis of 100 malpractice claims against bariatric surgeons. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2007 Jan-Feb; 3(1):60-6; discussion 66-7. Cottam D, Lord J, Dallal RM, Wolfe B, Higa K, McCauley K, Schauer P. PMID: 17196438.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    42. Improving the quality of care in bariatric surgery: the volume and outcome relationship. Adv Surg. 2005; 39:181-91. Nguyen NT, Higa K, Wilson SE. PMID: 16250552.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    43. A multidisciplinary approach to the adolescent bariatric surgical patient. J Pediatr Surg. 2004 Mar; 39(3):442-7; discussion 446-7. Inge TH, Garcia V, Daniels S, Langford L, Kirk S, Roehrig H, Amin R, Zeller M, Higa K. PMID: 15017567.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 31     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    44. Internal hernias after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: incidence, treatment and prevention. Obes Surg. 2003 Jun; 13(3):350-4. Higa KD, Ho T, Boone KB. PMID: 12841892.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 126     Fields:    Translation:Humans
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