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The Procedures Involved In Gastric Bypass Surgery

By Brian Anderson


Bariatric surgeries are a group of surgical procedures whose objective is to assist in weight loss. This is achieved through a reduction of food consumed (reduced stomach volume), a reduction of nutrient absorption or both. Gastric bypass surgery is one of these operations. There are a number of things New York residents need to know if they are considering having this operation.

Generally, weight loss surgeries are done as a last resort procedure for persons that are trying to lose weight but have not responded to lifestyle changes. It is recommended if one is at a high risk of suffering from weight related complications such as type 2 diabetes, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, hypertension, heart disease and stroke among others. The candidate should have a body mass index, BMI, of 40. A lower BMI of 35 is acceptable if they already have 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.

Extensive gastric bypass (also referred to as biliopancreatic diversion) is more radical. While it may be an option for weight loss, its main indication is biliary obstruction due to liver disease. The operation itself involves the removal of the lower stomach and the joining of the upper stomach portion to the last portion of the intestines. The other two portions are skipped. Due to severe nutrient deficiency, the procedure 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 is a condition that results from the rapid movement of food through the stomach. Whenever this happens, affected persons may experience a number of symptoms that include weakness, nausea, fainting, sweating and diarrhea. The symptoms are most likely to occur when one eats sugary foods (usually after 10 and 30 minutes after eating). Some people have also have late symptoms that occur about three hours after eating.




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