What is the gastric bypass?
The operation is carried out to reduce the size of your stomach. General will be given to the patient before this surgery. It is a pain-free process and you will be asleep during the surgery. It usually takes between two to three hours depending on individual circumstances.
The surgeon will use surgical staples to create a pouch from the upper portion of your stomach. A section of your small intestine is then bypassed, making it shorter. It is reconnected to the pouch so that food bypasses part of your digestive system and is absorbed less easily by the body.
There are two types of gastric bypass surgeries. In an open surgery, the surgeon makes a large surgical cut to open your belly. The bypass is done by working on your stomach, small intestine, and other organs.
The second type of surgery is to use a tiny camera, called a laparoscope. This camera is placed in your belly. The surgery is called laparoscopy. The scope allows the surgeon to see inside your belly.
What the Gastric Bypass Procedure Involves?
The laparoscopic gastric bypass may be considered as the “gold standard” operation for weight reduction. The operation is conducted entirely by a keyhole technique involves about 5 small incisions, through which a surgical telescope and instruments are passed, on the abdomen. A very small pouch is made by disconnecting the upper portion of the stomach, from the remainder of the stomach, using a surgical stapler. The remainder of the disconnected stomach remains in place without any detriment. The small intestine (bowel) is also divided with a stapler and the “plumbing” is reconstructed so that one end of the small intestine is anastomosed (joined) to the small stomach pouch and there is a further “join” between two loops of small intestine (the reconstructed small bowel has a Y-shaped configuration that was first described by a French surgeon named Roux, hence the term “Roux-en-Y”
How does the bypass work?
The hormones named Ghrelin, are normally secreted by the stomach or intestines and control the senses of hunger and fullness. Changes in the levels of these hormones, as a result of the bypass, create a feeling of profound satiety. Some of these hormones, also control blood sugar levels and the bypass alters the hormone levels so that diabetes is controlled.
Gastric bypass surgery shrinks the size of your stomach, so you can’t eat as much as you used to. The surgeon will also re-route, or bypass, part of your digestive system so you don’t absorb as much food.
There are several types of gastric bypass surgery
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: This is the most common gastric bypass surgery done in the U.S. Surgeons can do it through a small cut, which has a quicker recovery time than more complicated surgery.
Extensive gastric bypass (biliopancreatic diversion)
This is a more complex type of gastric bypass. The surgeon removes the lower part of the stomach. He then connects the small pouch that remains directly to the last part of the small intestine, completely bypassing the first two parts. It works for weight loss, but it’s not widely used because it has a high complication rate and can leave you short on nutrients.
Benefits of Gastric Bypass
- Improvement in weight-related issues:Improvement in weight-related problems such as arthritis, pain in joints, breathlessness and much more.
- A healthier lifestyle:A holistic management programme for behavioral changes, medically supervised diet to bring changes and enter into a healthier lifestyle.
- Reduced risk of cancer and heart problems:The chances and associated risks of heart issues and cancer are reduced
- Overall well being:Giving a person their life back by helping them get rid of pain, discomfort.
- Self Confidence:Self-confidence improves as your obesity-related illness are gone and you feel more comfortable in your own skin.
- Medical recommendation:The ability to undergo a weight loss surgery if recommended medically.
- Long-term remission of type 2 diabetes.
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Relief of depression
- Joint pain relief.
- Improve fertility
Potential Risks and Complications
People who have gastric bypass surgery are at risk for:
- Pouch stretching. The stomach gets bigger over time, stretching back to its original size.
- Breakdown of staple lines. The staples fall apart.
- Nutritional, vitamin, and mineral deficiencies. Your body will be less able to get nutrients from food.
- Stomal stenosis. A narrowing form of the connection of the stomach and small intestine causing nausea, vomiting, reflux, and then an inability to eat. This will need to be dilated.
Dumping syndrome can be caused by gastric bypass surgery. When that happens, food moves too quickly from the stomach to the small intestine. Symptoms include nausea, weakness, sweating, fainting, and, occasionally, diarrhea after eating, as well as becoming extremely weak after eating sweets.
You can also generate gallstones when you lose weight quickly. If that happens, your doctor can give you medicine to dissolve them.
Because these surgeries change how your body handles food, you should talk to your doctor about making sure you get all the nutrients you need.