With the rapid change in lifestyle and eating habits, obesity is one of the most commonly faced problems today. Obesity can be potentially harmful as it can lead the way to various other pathological conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. An individual is defined as obese when he/she has a BMI (body mass index) of 40 or above. A gastric bypass surgery is ideally advised in such severly obese individuals or in individuals having a BMI of 30-35 with a recently diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes.
Gastric bypass surgery is a surgical procedure where a part of the stomach is stapled or sewn to reduce the amount of food it can hold. The principle behind a gastric bypass surgery is based on the fact that if the size of stomach is reduced, it will hold lesser amount of food and hence the absorption of calories will also be reduced. It is one of the most commonly performed surgeries for weight loss when other treatments such as exercising, lifestyle modification and diet controlled haven’t been successful.
Gastric bypass surgery is one of the types of weight-loss or bariatric surgeries that aids in weight loss by altering how both your stomach and small intestine process the food that you eat. After this surgery, your stomach’s size will be smaller and hence you will feel full with lesser food.
Who needs a gastric bypass surgery ?
Weight loss is the ultimate goal of surgery for the treatment of morbid obesity (very severe obesity) and should be undertaken only when lifestyle modifications do not work in reducing obesity. Though that may sound attractive, gastric bypass surgery is a cure for obesity or just an easy way to lose weight. It is a major life-altering procedure with major health risks and side effects. Additionally, it requires a dedicated change in eating habits after the surgery to achieve the aim of the surgery. Weight-loss surgery like Gastric Bypass can be a possible treatment option for you if:
- Efforts or methods to lose weight with diet and exercise have been ineffective.
- Your body mass index (or BMI) is 40 or even higher.
- Your BMI is on a lower scale (35 or more, sometimes lower) but you have a serious weight-related health problem, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or intense sleep apnea.
- If you are a teenager who has a BMI of 35 or more, along with serious obesity-related health problems.
What are the types of gastric bypass surgeries?
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB): A part of stomach is sewn or stapled to allow the food to bypass the duodenum (beginning of small intestine) in intestine thereby reducing nutrient and calorie absorption. More commonly performed and can be done by a laparoscope ( a specialized instrument resembling a telescope to view the abdomen)
- Extensive gastric Bypass: In this procedure the lower part of the stomach is removed hence the remaining part is in direct contact with the small intestine. This procedure is usually not indicated as it leads to malnutrition and malabsorption.
How does gastric bypass surgery work ?
Gastric bypass surgery works on two main principles.
- Restriction: The size of the stomach pouch is decreased, therefore restricting your caloric intake.
- Malabsorption: The bypass is done in the small intestine, thereby causing ineffective absorption and utilization of food calories by the body. Instead the food passes out of the body as stool.
How do you prepare for a Gastric Bypass Procedure?
The consulting surgeon usually conducts an overall physical examination along with a BMI evaluation. As mentioned earlier a doctor would recommend a gastric bypass only if the other preliminary treatments have failed in treated obesity or if the obesity is linked to other conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. The doctor will also explain the risks and benefits of the procedure. The consulting surgeon might advise you a diet modification including reduction in sugar intake, low-carbohydrate diet, no alcohol and smoking which usually helps in reduction of the size of the liver and post operative complications as well.
Will I be asleep during gastric bypass surgery ?
The gastric bypass surgery is performed under the influence of general anesthesia mostly.
What is the procedure for gastric bypass surgery ?
There are 2 steps during gastric bypass surgery.
The first step in the surgery is to make your stomach smaller. Your surgeon with the help of staples divides your stomach into 2 parts, a small upper section and a larger bottom section. The upper part of your stomach (otherwise called the pouch) processes the food that you eat. The stomach pouch is capable of holding only about an ounce or 28 grams of food. Owing to this you will eat less and definitely lose weight.
The second step in the surgery is the bypass. Your surgeon connects the upper stomach pouch to the lower part of your small intestine (the jejunum). The food that you eat now travels from the pouch into this new opening and directly into your small intestine. As a result, your body is unable to absorb and utilize all the food that you eat.
What does gastric bypass surgery achieve ?
It is essentially a weight-loss surgery. It will decrease your risk of all the weight-related health issues like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity-related heart disease and sleep apnea (difficulty in breathing whilst sleeping).
What are the techniques for gastric bypass surgery ?
Gastric bypass can be done either by open surgery or by a minimally invasive surgery with a tiny camera, called a laparoscope.
What is the post-operative care for gastric bypass surgery ?
The patient is initially shifted to a post operative care unit. A cathether is occasionally inserted to help in passage of urine. The consulting surgeon and nurse gives instructions about how to initate movement after the surgery. If a nasogastric tube is inserted it might be removed on the second day of the surgery. X-ray is done to check the healing of the staples and stitches. If the X-ray seems fine you can start taking liquids and fruit juices. Medication for pain and other medications are usually administered intravenously. The length of the stay in the hospital depend usually rages from 4-7 days and is also dependent on the type of surgery and patients condition. The consultant doctor and the nurse will give you at home instructions for the appropriate care of the surgical site and suggest you a date for follow up.
A dietician or nutritionist will mostly prepare a customized diet chart as per your requirements. Lifestyle modifications are required after a gastric bypass procedure to help in losing excess weight. Diet control and cessation of habits like alcohol drinking and smoking are strongly suggested. The consulting doctor might even advise you to restrict the meal portion and drink more amount of water. Additional vitamin and mineral supplements might be advised to maintain your health. Apart from routine follow-ups it is also essential to check for any nutritional deficiency.
What are the risks of a gastric bypass surgery ?
Risks associated with the surgical procedure can be bleeding, infection at the surgical site, blood clots, breathing problems or leakage from the gastro intestinal system. Long term risks could be destruction of the vowel, continuous nausea and vomiting sensation, diarrhea, malabsorption, ulcers in the stomach, stones in the gall bladder and hernia.
Vomiting, nauseas and diarrhea can be categorized as side-effects of a gastric bypass procedure as the amount of food your stomach is able to retain is much lesser after the surgery and if the eating habits are not modified after the procedure the chances of these side effects are greater. Dumping is another side effect where an individual feels sick and faints on consumption of sugary food or liquids.
What is the outcome of a gastric bypass surgery ?
The results of a gastric bypass surgery are well documented in literature. It is very essential to consult a gastroenterologist or a bariatric surgeon to know if you are a suitable candidate for a gastric bypass procedure. The results differ from individual to individual and the procedure is only successful if it is combined with an appropriate post operative life style modification. Weight loss can be achieved if diet control is practiced with exercising.
How to find bariatric surgeons for gastric bypass surgery ?
Now you can find obesity or bariatric surgeons for gastric bypass surgery from different hospitals and destinations on a single platform, Hinfoways. You can avail opinions and information from multiple bariatric surgeons, get approximate cost of gastric bypass surgery from various hospitals, compare things and then choose a bariatric surgeon for gastric bypass surgery.
Find and choose a bariatric surgeon for gastric bypass surgery on Hinfoways. Make an informed choice.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
