Gastric Bypass Surgery
What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Gastric bypass is a surgical procedure that allows food to bypass part of the small intestine by reducing the size of the stomach which makes you feel full more quickly than when your stomach was its original size. This helps in reducing the amount of food you eat and thus the calories consumed, which ultimately leads to weight loss.
Am I a good candidate for Gastric Bypass surgery?
You may be a good candidate for the surgery if:
- You have been obese for at least 5 years.
- You do not have an ongoing problem with alcohol.
- You do not have untreated depression or another major psychiatric disorder.
- You are between 18 and 65 years of age.
and
Your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or 35 or higher with one or more related co morbid conditions such as:
- Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes mellitus type 2
- hypertension
- sleep apnea
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) associated with ASCVD, kidney failure
- Gallbladder disease
- Liver disease
- Venous thromboembolic disease
- Degenerative disc disease
- Degenerative disease of the weight bearing joints, or osteoarthritis affecting the hips, knees, ankles and feet.
How is gastric by-pass surgery performed?
The surgery most commonly used is a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass . In a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the stomach is made smaller by creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach using surgical staples or a plastic band. The smaller stomach is connected directly to the middle portion of the small intestine (jejunum), bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine (duodenum).
What to Expect After Surgery?
You would require to stay in the hospital for 7-8 days in the hospital after the surgery. Most people can return to their normal activities within 2 -3 weeks.
What are the benefits of Gastric Bypass surgery?
- Weight loss of 65 to 80% of excess body weight is typical of most large series of Gastric Bypass operations.
- The medically more significant effects are a dramatic reduction in co-morbid conditions:
- Hyperlipidemia is corrected in over 70% of patients.
- Essential hypertension is relieved in over 70% of patients, and medication requirements are usually reduced in the remainder.
- Obstructive sleep apnea is markedly improved with weight loss, so that most patients are asymptomatic, and often do not even snore, within one year.
- Diabetes mellitus type 2 is reversed in up to 90% of patients, usually leading to a normal blood sugar without medication, sometimes within days of surgery.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease is relieved from the time of surgery in almost all patients.
- Venous thromboembolic disease signs such as leg swelling are typically much improved.
- Low back pain and joint pain are typically relieved or improved in nearly all patients.
A recent study in a large comparative series of patients showed a 89% reduction in mortality over the 5 years following surgery, compared to a non-surgically treated group of patients. There were accompanying decreases in the incidence of cardiovascular disease, infections, and cancer.
Concurrently, most patients are able to alter their lifestyle, to consume "healthier" foods, exercise more regularly, and to enjoy greater participation in family and social activities. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity, and can markedly improve health and lifestyle.
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