Gastric bypass surgery helps obese people to lose weight. In this procedure, the surgeon staples off the lower part of the stomach, creating a small pouch for food at the top, and re-routes a part of the small intestine directly to the pouch, bypassing part of the normal route through the small intestine. The procedure involves all the usual dangers of major surgery and short- and long-term risks specific to the gastric bypass procedure.
General Risks
Like any major surgery, gastric bypass involves the risks of general anesthesia, including breathing problems or an allergic reaction to the anesthetic. Medline Plus says that the general surgical risks include the possibility of a serious infection after the surgery, the risk of a blood clot traveling to the lungs, loss of blood during the procedure, and the risk for stroke or heart attack during the surgery.
Specific Risks
In addition to the risks involved with any major surgery, gastric bypass surgery involves risks specific to this procedure. During the procedure, the surgeon could accidentally damage the stomach, intestines or other neighboring organs. After the procedure, the staples used to close off the lower part of the stomach could leak, allowing some food to seep through. According to the Mayo Clinic, most cases heal with antibiotics and time, but sometimes serious cases require emergency surgical repair.
Short-Term Risks
After gastric bypass surgery, patients rapidly lose weight in the first 3 to 6 months, causing side effects like body aches, hair loss and mood changes, says Medline Plus. Rapid weight loss also increases the risk of gall bladder problems, including gallstones. The radical changes in eating behaviors necessitated by the surgery can be overwhelming. Often patients find that they become depressed after gastric bypass surgery. Until patients adjust to the new diet restrictions, they might suffer from frequent vomiting or from malnutrition. A more serious complication called "dumping syndrome" occurs when food passes through the small intestine too quickly, causing discomfort, nausea and vomiting, dizziness and sweating, and diarrhea, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Long-Term Risks
Over time, the stapled stomach pouch can break down; in this case, the patient would need another surgery to correct it. Over time, the opening from the stomach to the re-routed small intestine can constrict, also possibly requiring surgical repair. After surgery, the small intestine extracts nutrients from food less efficiently. If patients do not stringently adhere to the proper diet, Medline Plus says that inadequate nutrition can cause long-term problems such as osteoporosis from too little calcium or anemia from too little vitamin B12.
Factors That Increase Risk
According to Medline Plus, some people have a greater risk for complications during and after gastric bypass surgery. Young children and people older than about 65 have higher risks for complications than people in other age ranges. People with limited mobility due to obesity or any other cause have an increased risk for bed sores, breathing problems and blood clots.
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