Gastric Bypass Surgery - Preparation for the Big Event
Gastric
Bypass Surgery - Preparation for the Big Event
As with any surgical procedure, proper preparation before gastric bypass
surgery is extremely important to ensure the experience is
not overly stressful. Assuming your doctor confirms that you are
a valid candidate for a gastric bypass, the
first thing you should do to prepare is to contact your
insurance company to see if they cover weight loss surgery.
If the surgery qualifies for coverage, your insurance carrier
may require both physical and psychological clearances as part
of the gastric
bypass preparation. They may accept information sent by your
doctors or require you to see doctors of their choosing before
they will approve the gastric bypass
surgery. You also need to see what your financial
responsibility will be, so you can make whatever preparations
are necessary to pay for it.
Next, you will need to find a qualified hospital or surgical
center and pre-register to undergo weight loss surgery.
Pre-screening tests will need to be performed about a week prior
to surgery. The Day of the Procedure
Since your stomach must be completely empty to reduce the
changes of vomiting during surgery, no food or drink is allowed
after midnight the day before your surgery.
Usually, you check into the hospital or surgical center early
the morning of your surgery to complete final paperwork and last
minute tests. Then, you will be taken to a room where you will
change into a surgical gown. Next, you will be taken to a
pre-operating holding area where the anesthesiologist will
discuss your medical history with you and answer any questions
that you may have.
In the operating room, any other necessary preparations will be
completed, and then the anesthesiology will start an IV for you.
Now it's time for the surgeons to work their magic. What
Happens During Surgery
Gastric bypass
surgery is performed under general anesthesia, which means you
will be asleep during the surgery. If you are having a
laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon will make three to four
small incisions in the outer abdomen wall and insert a
micro-sized camera and different surgical instruments into your
body. Your abdominal cavity will be filled with gas to inflate
the space and make it easier for the surgeon to see what he or
she is doing. If you are having the Roux-en-Y procedure
performed, the surgeon will make a much larger incision, from
your bellybutton to breastbone, through which to enter the
abdominal cavity and perform the gastric bypass.
In both cases, the surgeon will create a small upper pouch in
your stomach using a surgical stapler and reinforcing the
staples with stitches. Then the surgeon will divide the small
intestine and attach one end to the new stomach pouch, bypassing
part of the digestive track so that food will pass directly from
the new stomach pouch to the mid-point of the small intestine.
The new, smaller stomach pouch prevents the patient from eating
large amounts of food, and the bypass prevents the patient's
body from absorbing some of the calories in the food that is
eaten.
After the surgery is finished, you will be taken to the recovery
room where nurses will monitor your condition. As soon as you
are ready, you will be sent home and scheduled for a follow-up
with your surgeon two weeks later.
More information:
Preparation
Insurance
Risks
Pictures
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This article provides an overview of health issues related to
gastric bypass surgery and is not intended to replace the advice
of a medical practitioner. Please consult your doctor prior to
making any major medical decisions.