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.

Just like any other major surgery, this operation comes with its own complications. Some of the complications are related to abdominal operation while others are specific to gastric bypass procedures (GBP). These potential adverse effects are used to assess the risk of operation and mortality. The overall rate of complications is higher with open incisions than when laparoscopy is used.

Bacteria present in the bowel may be released during the procedure, putting the patient at risk of infections. Additionally, the open incisions made expose one to infections, especially if sterility is not well observed. Hospital acquired infections such as pneumonia, sepsis, kidney and bladder infections may also occur. Short term use of antibiotics and focused respiratory therapy can help in management.

Coagulation of blood may occur due to long hours of surgery and reduced mobility. This may be dangerous to the patients as they face the risk of venous thromboembolism. Clots formed in leg veins and sometimes the pelvis may get dislodged to organs such as the lungs. To minimize this risk, anticoagulants are given before the operation is done.

Abdominal surgeries may also be associated with bleeding, bowel obstruction and hernias. Hemorrhage can be attributed to blood vessel rupture during the procedure. Arrangements should therefore be made preoperatively to make blood available for transfusion if needed. The types of hernias that occur in such cases are known as incisional hernias and are likely to occur when the surgical wound fails to heal as expected. These are not only painful but can also cause kinking of the bowel.

If done successfully, the operation yields remarkable results. Research shows that at least sixty five percent of excess body weight is lost which is far more than can be achieved by any other method. Additionally, the effects of related medical conditions are markedly reduced. For instance, snoring significantly reduces in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and medication requirements in people with essential hypertension are significantly reduced.

Both emotional and physiological changes can be seen in patients who have undergone gastric bypass. This is attributed to the need to adjust their eating habits. The reduced amount of food portions lowers their energy levels. As a result, they end up with muscle weakness (also due to reduce protein intake). They tend to have difficulty in doing things such as climbing stairs or carrying heavy objects. However, with time, they become normal again as food intake increases.




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