Kelvin Higa, MD, FACS

Clinical Professor
Surgery - Fresno
+1 559 261-4525

Kelvin D. Higa, M.D., FACS, FASMBS, FIFSO

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 been considered a pioneer in minimally invasive surgery, specializing in in complex revision foregut and bariatric procedures. He has served as president of the California Chapter of the ASMBS, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the International Federation for Bariatric Surgery and Metabolic Disorders.

Dr. Higa has authored many original articles and book chapters regarding bariatric surgery and complication management. He has been the recipient of of multiple awards and honorary memberships including the ASMBS Lifetime Achievement Award and Life Member of IFSO.

Dr. Higa currently is CEO of ALSA Medical Group and servers as Director of Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery and VP Chief Medical and Quality Officer at Fresno Heart and Surgical Hospital.

Publications: 

FIB-4 Reliability in Patients With Severe Obesity: Lower Cutoffs Needed?

Journal of clinical gastroenterology

Green V, Lin J, McGrath M, Lloyd A, Ma P, Higa K, Roytman M

Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeon Criteria-An International Experts' Consensus.

Obesity surgery

Kermansaravi M, Chiappetta S, Shikora SA, Musella M, Kow L, Aarts E, Abbas SI, Aly A, Aminian A, Angrisani L, Asghar ST, Bashir A, Behrens E, Billy H, Boza C, Brown WA, Caina DO, Carbajo MA, Chevallier JM, Clapp B, Cohen RV, Jazi AHD, De Luca M, Dilemans B, Fried M, Gagner M, Neto MG, Garneau PY, Gawdat K, Ghanem OM, Al Hadad M, Haddad A, ElFawal MH, Herrera MF, Higa K, Himpens J, Husain F, Kasama K, Kassir R, Khoursheed M, Khwaja H, Kristinsson JA, Kroh M, Kurian MS, Lakdawala M, LaMasters T, Lee WJ, Madhok B, Mahawar K, Mahdy T, Almomani H, Melissas J, Miller K, Neimark A, Omarov T, Palermo M, Papasavas PK, Parmar C, Pazouki A, Peterli R, Pintar T, Poggi L, Ponce J, Prasad A, Pratt JSA, Ramos AC, Rezvani M, Rheinwalt K, Ribeiro R, Ruiz-Ucar E, Sabry K, Safadi B, Shabbir A, ShahabiShahmiri S, Stenberg E, Suter M, Taha S, Taskin HE, Torres A, Verboonen S, Vilallonga R, Voon K, Wafa A, Wang C, Weiner R, Yang W, Zundel N, Prager G, Nimeri A

Current recommendations for procedure selection in class I and II obesity developed by an expert modified Delphi consensus.

Scientific reports

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

A Matched Comparative Analysis of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Remission Between Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Surgical innovation

Hage K, Ma P, Ghusn W, Ikemiya K, Acosta A, Vierkant RA, Abu Dayyeh BK, Higa KD, Ghanem OM

Surgical Management of Bariatric Complications and Weight Regain.

Gastroenterology clinics of North America

Higa K

Type 2 diabetes remission after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a multicentered experience with long-term follow-up.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

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

Diabetes Mellitus Remission in Patients with BMI?>?50�kg/m2 after Bariatric Surgeries: A Real-World Multi-Centered Study.

Obesity surgery

Ghusn W, Ikemiya K, Al Annan K, Acosta A, Dayyeh BKA, Lee E, Spaniolas K, Kendrick M, Higa K, Ma P, Ghanem OM

Effect of metabolic surgery on immunosuppressive medication use in patients with rheumatic diseases.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

Ma P, Vahibe A, McKenzie T, Hurtado Andrade MD, Vierkant RA, Higa K, Kendrick M, Ghanem OM

Defining Global Benchmarks in Elective Secondary Bariatric Surgery Comprising Conversional, Revisional, and Reversal Procedures.

Annals of surgery

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

IFSO Update Position Statement on One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB).

Obesity surgery

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

Bariatric-Metabolic Surgery Utilisation in Patients With and Without Diabetes: Data from the IFSO Global Registry 2015-2018.

Obesity surgery

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

The IFSO Worldwide One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass Survey: Techniques and Outcomes?

Obesity surgery

Haddad A, Bashir A, Fobi M, Higa K, Herrera MF, Torres AJ, Himpens J, Shikora S, Ramos AC, Kow L, Nimeri AA

Barrett's Oesophagus and Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery-IFSO 2020 Position Statement.

Obesity surgery

Fisher OM, Chan DL, Talbot ML, Ramos A, Bashir A, Herrera MF, Himpens J, Shikora S, Higa KD, Kow L, Brown WA

Single Anastomosis Duodenal-Ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy/One Anastomosis Duodenal Switch (SADI-S/OADS) IFSO Position Statement-Update 2020.

Obesity surgery

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

IFSO Position Statement on the Role of Esophago-Gastro-Duodenal Endoscopy Prior to and after Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Procedures.

Obesity surgery

Brown WA, Johari Halim Shah Y, Balalis G, Bashir A, Ramos A, Kow L, Herrera M, Shikora S, Campos GM, Himpens J, Higa K

Laparoscopic modified Nissen fundoplication over Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and hiatal hernia repair for intractable gastroesophageal reflux.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

Ma P, Higa K

Laparoscopic resection of intussusception after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: comparison between the conventional and a simplified approach.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

Shuchleib A, Ma P, Boone K, Higa K

Complications of Roux-En-O gastric bypass.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

Ma P, Higa K

Laparoscopic revision of a transected silastic vertical gastric bypass (Fobi pouch) with totally hand sewn gastrojejunostomy for complicated marginal ulcer.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

Abunnaja S, Ma P, Higa K

Defining Global Benchmarks in Bariatric Surgery: A Retrospective Multicenter Analysis of Minimally Invasive Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Annals of surgery

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

Reduction of opioid use after implementation of enhanced recovery after bariatric surgery (ERABS).

Surgical endoscopy

Ma P, Lloyd A, McGrath M, Moore R, Jackson A, Boone K, Higa K

Efficacy of liposomal bupivacaine versus bupivacaine in port site injections on postoperative pain within enhanced recovery after bariatric surgery program: a randomized clinical trial.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

Ma P, Lloyd A, McGrath M, Shuchleib Cung A, Akusoba I, Jackson A, Swartz D, Boone K, Higa K

Reversal of Roux en Y gastric bypass: largest single institution experience.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

Ma P, Ghiassi S, Lloyd A, Haddad A, Boone K, DeMaria E, Higa K

Duodenal switch in revisional bariatric surgery: conclusions from an expert consensus panel.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

Merz AE, Blackstone RB, Gagner M, Torres AJ, Himpens J, Higa KD, Rosenthal RJ, Lloyd A, DeMaria EJ

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.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

Kichler K, Rosenthal RJ, DeMaria E, Higa K

Editorial: Single Anastomosis Procedures, IFSO Position Statement.

Obesity surgery

Higa K, Brown W, Himpens J

Mini Gastric Bypass-One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (MGB-OAGB)-IFSO Position Statement.

Obesity surgery

De Luca M, Tie T, Ooi G, Higa K, Himpens J, Carbajo MA, Mahawar K, Shikora S, Brown WA

Single Anastomosis Duodenal-Ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy/One Anastomosis Duodenal Switch (SADI-S/OADS) IFSO Position Statement.

Obesity surgery

Brown WA, Ooi G, Higa K, Himpens J, Torres A, IFSO-appointed task force reviewing the literature on SADI-S/OADS

Bariatric Surgery Worldwide: Baseline Demographic Description and One-Year Outcomes from the Second IFSO Global Registry Report 2013-2015.

Obesity surgery

Welbourn R, Pournaras DJ, Dixon J, Higa K, Kinsman R, Ottosson J, Ramos A, van Wagensveld B, Walton P, Weiner R, Zundel N

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.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

Ghiassi S, Higa K, Chang S, Ma P, Lloyd A, Boone K, DeMaria EJ

Revisional Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery: What Dictates Its Indications?

Current atherosclerosis reports

Ma P, Reddy S, Higa KD

Laparoscopic revision of distal Roux-en-Y gastric bypass to duodenal switch for weight loss failure and symptoms.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

Moon C, Ghiassi S, Higa K

International Sleeve Gastrectomy Expert Panel Consensus Statement: best practice guidelines based on experience of >12,000 cases.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

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

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 10-year follow-up.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

Higa K, Ho T, Tercero F, Yunus T, Boone KB

Surgery for diabetes?

Medscape journal of medicine

Higa KD

[Mesenteric closure in laparoscopic gastric bypass: surgical technique and literature review].

Cirugia espanola

Higa K, Boone K, Arteaga González I, López-Tomassetti Fernández E

Medicolegal analysis of 100 malpractice claims against bariatric surgeons.

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

Cottam D, Lord J, Dallal RM, Wolfe B, Higa K, McCauley K, Schauer P

A multidisciplinary approach to the adolescent bariatric surgical patient.

Journal of pediatric surgery

Inge TH, Garcia V, Daniels S, Langford L, Kirk S, Roehrig H, Amin R, Zeller M, Higa K