Some Essential Facts About Gastric Bypass Surgery

By Pamela Graham


There are many surgical options that are available to help with weight problems. Gastric bypass surgery is one of the operations offered in New York City. As the name suggests, this is a procedure in which the small intestine is used to separate the stomach into two parts, a smaller upper portion and a larger lower portion. The procedure is not only carried out on people suffering from extreme obesity but also benefits those with related to it such as diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

Laparoscopy is the commonly used technique though open surgery can also be employed. Sometimes, both techniques are utilized. In laparoscopy, a number of ports are made to access the stomach and the small bowel. A video camera place within a telescope is used to guide the surgeon during the operation. The essence of making an upper small pouch of the stomach is to ensure feeding is restricted.

Complications are bound to arise either in the course of the procedure or post operatively. The complications may be specific to bariatric surgeries or may be general to all other major abdominal procedures. It is important to know what complications to expect in order to weigh the risks and mortality of the same. Laparoscopic procedures are usually more preferred since it comes with less risk compared to open operations.

Peritonitis or abscesses are complications that are likely to occur as a result of making surgical incisions in the abdomen. Observing sterile measures and diligent wound care are some of the practices that keep infections at bay. Nosocomial infections such as sepsis and pneumonia can be treated through use of antibiotics as a short term form of management.

Blood tends to clot more during an operation to counter the bleeding that occurs as result of incisions made. The clots frequently form in leg veins and sometimes the pelvis for the very obese patient. Unfortunately, the blood clots may get dislodged and travel to the lungs posing a serious threat to the health of the individual. Anticoagulants are usually given preoperatively to minimise chance of venous thromboembolism.

Other complications are general to abdominal surgeries and include hemorrhage, hernias and bowel obstruction. Hemorrhage may occur as a result of accidental cutting of blood vessels. Blood for transfusion should therefore be availed prior to the procedure, in case it is needed. The chance of a hernia occurring is markedly reduced when operation is done laparoscopically. Bowel obstruction may occur either due to hernia or adhesion bands formed due to scarring.

This procedure has numerous benefits when done right. Not only does it result in desired weight loss, it also reduces the effects of co morbidities significantly. An example is essential hypertension which is remedied in over seventy percent of patients subjected to the operation. Requirement for drugs in the remaining thirty percent is markedly reduced. Hyperlipidemia is also corrected in up to seventy percent of individuals.

People who have had this kind of operation tend to be challenged both emotionally and physiologically. These individuals may suffer from depression because of reduced amounts of food which they are not used to. Also, they tend to lose balance and get easily fatigued due to muscle weakness as a result of low protein and energy levels. The good news is that these problems fade with time when the individual eventually gets adjusted.




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