Gastric Bypass Surgery - How It Works
Gastric Bypass Surgery - How It Works
Gastric bypass
surgery makes your stomach smaller. This causes you to feel full
with less food so you consume fewer calories. The procedure also
bypasses part of your small intestine, so fewer calories are
actually absorbed into your system. Fewer calories will
ultimately lead to weight loss.
When you eat food, it passes through the esophagus and enters
into the stomach, where gastric acids soften the food and begin
to dissolve it. Next, this semi-liquid mixture enters into the
small intestine, where most of the calories and essential
nutrients are absorbed by your body. Finally, whatever is left
passes into the large intestine and eventually through the colon
as it is expelled from the body. Gastric bypass surgery
restructures the stomach and intestinal system, resulting in
intentional malabsorption and limiting the patient's ability to
eat large quantities of food.
Common Gastric Bypass Procedures
The most common gastric bypass
surgery is a Roux-en-Y gastric
bypass. The surgeon will create a small pouch at the top of
the stomach using surgical staples. Next, he will connect this
smaller pouch directly to the middle of the small intestine
(called the jejunum). This causes the food to bypass the lower
part of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine
(called the duodenum).
Historically, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was does as an open
procedure, which means the surgeon makes a large incision in the
outer stomach wall to access the abdominal cavity. Today, the
laparoscopic procedure is more common for those who qualify.
This method is performed by making up to five small incisions in
the outer stomach wall and using extremely small instruments and
a tiny camera to guide them.
Risks and Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Typically, the surgery requires a two to six day hospital stay,
depending on which procedure you have done. Usually, you can
return to normal activities within three to five weeks. The type
of work you do may require a longer convalescence period.
Some of the benefits of gastric bypass
surgery are: --Most people lose between 60% and 80% of
their excess weight over a two to three year period.
--The majority of patients manage to keep at least 50% of their
excess weight off permanently.
--Other obesity-related health problems, such as diabetes and
high blood pressure, are often minimized or eliminated.
There are also several serious risks with gastric bypass
surgery, such as: --Peritonitis, a severe infection caused
by a leak from the stomach into the abdominal cavity from a
ruptured staple or stitch.
--The possibility of a blood clot breaking away from the
surgical area and getting caught in the lung (called a pulmonary
embolism).
However, recent studies indicate that only about 2% to 3% of
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients die within 90 days of the
procedure. (Source: "Gastric Bypass - Let the Morbidly Obese
Beware", by Neil Osterweil, Senior Associate Editor, MedPage
Today.)
Common Side Effects of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass
surgery can also cause several less serious short- and
long-term side effects, such as: --Dumping syndrome, which
can occur when food moves too quickly through the small
intestine. This disorder causes nausea, weakness, sweating,
faintness, and possibly diarrhea soon after eating and is
generally caused by eating highly refined foods, like sugars.
--Developing gallstones or a nutritional deficiency, such as
anemia or osteoporosis.
--The connection between the stomach and the intestines can
narrow, causing nausea and vomiting after eating.
--Patients can develop stomach ulcers or a hernia.
--The bypassed part of the stomach can enlarge, causing bloating
and hiccups.
Of course, any surgery has some risks associated with it. That
is why it is essential that you consider all of the benefits and
risks associated with gastric bypass surgery and talk them over
with your doctor and perhaps even a mental health professional.