Gastric bypass surgery is performed to help people lose weight when diet and exercise are not enough. Many versions of weight-loss surgery exist today, but gastric bypass remains the most effective. Techniques and advancements have made it a relatively safe surgery, but there are still significant risks. The surgery is not a fix-all. Significant and permanent lifestyle changes are necessary to gain success with this surgery.
Eligibility
Facilities that perform gastric bypass surgery have certain qualifications in order to receive surgery. Typically, a body mass index of 40 or higher or a BMI of 35-39.9 when combined with serious weight-related health problems are required to undergo the surgery. Some facilities might require long-term nutritional, psychological and physical counseling and check-ups to evaluate readiness for surgery.
Risks
Gastric bypass, like any surgery, carries risks. Risks increase with age, weight and physical fitness. Blood clots, cardiac issues and breathing problems might occur during surgery, according to Medline Plus. Leaking stomach staples, injury to intestines and depression can occur soon after surgery. Long-term problems can include breakdown of the stomach pouch, a development of vitamin or mineral deficiency, osteoporosis, hernia, gall stones and ulcers.
Roux-en-Y
This form of gastric bypass surgery reconstructs the stomach. A small area is removed from the stomach in order to create a small stomach that is about the size of a walnut. This small pouch is attached directly to part of the small intestine. Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, reports the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum, is bypassed. Fat absorption occurs in the duodenum and when the duodendum is bypassed, fat absorption is substantially reduced. The remaining portion of the stomach and the bypassed section of the small intestine are left in the abdominal cavity and attached to a portion of the active intestine.
Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch Gastric Bypass
This is a rare form of gastric bypass surgery. The Mayo Clinic reports that about 80 percent of the stomach is removed during this procedure. The sphincter at the far end of the stomach is left intact unlike other gastric bypass surgeries, according to the Duodenal Switch Information Zone. After separation of the stomach, the intestines are rerouted. The digestive tract after this surgery will bypass most of the small intestine. Additionally, bile and pancreatic juices do not contact digesting food until late in the small intestine. This causes malabsorption by restricting the absorption of fats and other nutrients. As nutrients and fats pass through the intestines quickly, weight loss results.
Outcomes
Gastric bypass is both restrictive and malabsorptive, therefore the rate of success is higher than surgeries that only do one of those. Medline Plus reports that 10 to 20 lbs. will be lost each month for the first year after gastric bypass. Weight loss will slow after a year, and around half of excess weight should be lost in the first two years. Strict nutritional guidelines must be followed.
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