Basics Relating To Gastric Bypass Surgery

By Brian Anderson


Bariatric surgery is an operation that is used to facilitate weight loss. This may be achieved through one of several ways: reduced food intake due to reduced stomach capacity, reduced absorption of nutrients or both mechanisms. An example of bariatric surgery is gastric bypass surgery. There are a number of important things that New York residents should know about this procedure if you have plans of having it.

In general, weight-loss surgeries should be performed as a last resort for people who have tried all the non-surgical options of weight loss but have been unsuccessful. They are likely to be more beneficial in persons who are suffering from or are at risk of developing weight-related complications such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes type 2, gastro-esophageal reflux disease and stroke among others. The general recommendation is that the candidate should have a BMI(body mass index) of not less than 40 (or 35 if they already have the complications).

As soon as you have been booked for the operation, you will be instructed on what you need to do as part of the preparation. You may be subjected to some tests to establish if you can withstand the operation. You may be asked to withhold on some drugs or foods to reduce the risk of complications. If you smoke, you should stop at least two weeks in advance.

There are several types of gastric bypass operations that exist. The most common is known as the Roux-en-Y. It can be performed through a small incision which helps to reduce the time needed for recovery. The first step in this operation is to staple the stomach together or to place a band in the vertical plane which converts the organ into a small pouch. This reduces the amount of food that can be held at any given point in time.

The second step is the attachment of a Y-shaped intestinal portion to the pouch. When food moves from the pouch into this part of the intestines, a significant section of the digestion tract is bypassed (hence the name). This means that there will be less absorption of nutrients and less calories will be produced. Weight loss starts to set in in subsequent weeks and months.

A rare type of operation that may be performed is extensive gastric bypass. This is also known as biliopancreatic diversion. It is more complicated and takes a lot longer than the conventional bypass procedure. In the operation the lower part of the stomach is removed and the remainder is connected to the last intestinal part leaving out the first two parts. Due to the associated severe nutrient deficiency, it is not done routinely.

You need to be aware of the attendant risks of these surgeries. A major risk is the fact that the pouch mat dilate over some months or years effectively increasing the stomach size. It is possible for it to even revert to its original size. The band and the staples may disintegrate and fall off which reverses the procedure. There are cases where stomach acids leak through the incisions and enter the abdominal cavity causing damage to internal organs.

Dumping syndrome refers to a number of symptoms that are experienced in some patients that have undergone these procedures. It is characterized by nausea, sweating, fainting, weakness and diarrhea. These symptoms occur after ten to thirty minutes following the consumption of food. They are most likely to be experienced when one eats sugary foods or sweets. The underlying cause is the rapid movement of food through the stomach.




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