Gastric Bypass - True Results

Gastric Bypass Surgery and LAP BAND are common types of weight loss surgery for the treatment of obesity. Both types involve gastric banding, which reduces stomach size to limit hunger. This article is about gastric bypass surgery.

Gastric bypass surgery is a type of weight loss surgery used to treat patients who are more than 100 pounds overweight or who have a BMI in excess of 40. Both procedures use gastric banding, which reduces the size of the stomach. Gastric bypass surgery was introduced over 35 years ago. Approximately half of gastric bypass surgical procedures are performed through open surgery, which requires a long incision in the abdomen. The other half are performed using laparoscopic surgery, like LAP BAND.

Gastric bypass surgeons use a stapling device that cuts and separates a small area of the stomach (known as the "pouch") from the rest of the stomach. The pouch becomes the new stomach and the rest is closed off on permanently. Depending on the procedure, the pouch is then connected either to the middle of the small intestine (jejunum), "bypassing" the upper portion (duodenum), or further down at the distal ileum. This bypass allows the newly-created, smaller stomach to pass food further downstream and so that the digestive juices from the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas are included in the digestion process. In a final step, the bariatric surgeon may connect the jejunum to the duodenum so that its digestive juices can contribute as well.

By bypassing sections of the stomach and small intestine, gastric bypass surgery has the effect of reducing hunger and, unlike LAP Band surgery, and lessening the absorption of nutrients and calories. This combination of effects contributes to the weight loss that occurs after surgery.

Two Gastric Bypass Procedures: Roux-en-Y and Biliopancreatic Diversion

There are two main versions of gastric bypass surgery: Roux-en-Y and Biliopancreatic Diversion. Rou-en-Y gastric bypass surgery comes in two forms: the original procedure, which is performed via a long incision in the abdomen, and laparoscopic, which uses a camera (laparoscope) so that smaller incisions can be made. In the Biliopancreatic Diversion procedure, the surgeon attaches the pouch to a section of intestine that is located further down the digestive tract, thereby severely restricting absorption of nutrients and calories. Biliopancreatic Diversion is a very complicated procedure that can lead to serious complications in some cases. As result, this procedure is rarely used in the U.S. In contrast, in Rou-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, the newly-formed pouch is connected to the middle of the small intestine (jejunum), which allows nutrients and calories to be absorbed.

Potential Complications of the Gastric Bypass Surgery Procedure

Gastric bypass is a major surgical procedure with a risk of serious complications or even death (The mortality rate is approximately 1%.) It causes significant changes in the digestive tract and is essentially irreversible. To learn about the risks involved with gastric bypass and see how they compare to those for LAP BAND surgery, visit the LAP Band Versus Gastric Bypass page of the True Results website.

Recovery from Gastric Bypass Surgery

After surgery, most patients remain in the hospital for one to three days, depending on outcome and the procedure performed. Several weeks of additional, at-home recovery are also necessary. Because gastric bypass surgery causes abdominal swelling, most patients feel very sore in the initial days following the procedure. Gastric bypass surgery also leaves a scar. The scars for LAP Band surgery are typically less noticeable than with gastric bypass.

Most surgeons who perform gastric bypass surgery, LAP BAND, or other types of weight loss surgery give their patients a dietary plan following surgery. Patients are also instructed to exercise consistently.

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