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Essential Principles On Gastric Bypass Surgery

By Pamela Graham


There are many surgical options that are available to help with weight problems. Gastric bypass surgery is one of the operations offered in New York City. As the name suggests, this is a procedure in which the small intestine is used to separate the stomach into two parts, a smaller upper portion and a larger lower portion. The procedure is not only carried out on people suffering from extreme obesity but also benefits those with related to it such as diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

Laparoscopy is the commonly used technique though open surgery can also be employed. Sometimes, both techniques are utilized. In laparoscopy, a number of ports are made to access the stomach and the small bowel. A video camera place within a telescope is used to guide the surgeon during the operation. The essence of making an upper small pouch of the stomach is to ensure feeding is restricted.

Just like any other major surgery, this operation comes with its own complications. Some of the complications are related to abdominal operation while others are specific to gastric bypass procedures (GBP). These potential adverse effects are used to assess the risk of operation and mortality. The overall rate of complications is higher with open incisions than when laparoscopy is used.

Peritonitis or abscesses are complications that are likely to occur as a result of making surgical incisions in the abdomen. Observing sterile measures and diligent wound care are some of the practices that keep infections at bay. Nosocomial infections such as sepsis and pneumonia can be treated through use of antibiotics as a short term form of management.

Coagulation of blood may occur due to long hours of surgery and reduced mobility. This may be dangerous to the patients as they face the risk of venous thromboembolism. Clots formed in leg veins and sometimes the pelvis may get dislodged to organs such as the lungs. To minimize this risk, anticoagulants are given before the operation is done.

Other complications are general to abdominal surgeries and include hemorrhage, hernias and bowel obstruction. Hemorrhage may occur as a result of accidental cutting of blood vessels. Blood for transfusion should therefore be availed prior to the procedure, in case it is needed. The chance of a hernia occurring is markedly reduced when operation is done laparoscopically. Bowel obstruction may occur either due to hernia or adhesion bands formed due to scarring.

If done successfully, the operation yields remarkable results. Research shows that at least sixty five percent of excess body weight is lost which is far more than can be achieved by any other method. Additionally, the effects of related medical conditions are markedly reduced. For instance, snoring significantly reduces in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and medication requirements in people with essential hypertension are significantly reduced.

People who have had this kind of operation tend to be challenged both emotionally and physiologically. These individuals may suffer from depression because of reduced amounts of food which they are not used to. Also, they tend to lose balance and get easily fatigued due to muscle weakness as a result of low protein and energy levels. The good news is that these problems fade with time when the individual eventually gets adjusted.




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