Gastric Bypass
The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass is categorized as a combined type of surgical weight loss, in terms of restrictive and malabsorptive. The operation is restrictive where the stomach is cut and divided, thereby making a smaller stomach that limits the amount of food you eat before you feel full. And it is malabsorptive in the fact that the first part of the small intestine is bypassed, so the food you eat does not see this part of the intestine. The Bypass has been performed safely for more than a decade, and has proven itself to be a good procedure for maximizing weight loss while having an acceptable complication rate. Possible complications which are less than 10% include the chance of an intestinal leak, bleeding, obstruction, ulcer, and malbsorption. Imprtantly, since there is a component of malabsorption with this procedure, patients need to be on lifetime nutritional supplements. Your doctor will monitor these vitamin and mineral levels on a regular basis to ensure your maximum health. Weight loss for this procedure is reported at approximately 60% excess weight loss the first year, with most patients maintaining this level for the years to come.
Video Education
Important points:
- First performed via an open technique in the 1960′s.
- First described laparoscopically in 1994.