• How is the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure performed?
  • View Illustrated Gastric Bypass  
• How does the Roux en Y gastric bypass help treat obesity?

• Risks Associated with Weight Loss Surgery

South Jersey Healthcare BariatricCare Center is a comprehensive surgical therapy program dedicated to the care and treatment of patients with morbid obesity that does not respond to non-operative treatment. The Center provides a full array of
pre- and post-surgical support
services to assist patients.

How does the Roux en Y gastric bypass help treat obesity?

After having the procedure, the patient is not able to eat large quantities of food as in the past, and has a feeling of fullness after eating a small amount of food. Food also bypasses part of the digestive system; therefore, some nutrients are not absorbed, contributing to weight loss.

1. National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded in 1991 that surgery is a reasonable solution for some individuals with obesity and said, “a major drawback to the non-surgical methods is failure to maintain reduced body weight in most persons.” With non-surgical weight loss programs, most patients can realistically hope to lose no more than 10 percent of their body weight and for many this loss will be temporary.

2. According to one study, people who have gastric bypass surgery lose on an average 60 percent of their excess body weight and maintain the weight loss for five years or longer.

3. Many people lose from 100 to 200 pounds, some even more. Some people can achieve a normal weight for their height and bone structure, while others lose significant weight, but still remain slightly overweight.

4. Gastric bypass surgery (bariatric surgery) is not a quick fix or an easy way out for weight loss. It is a drastic step, and it includes all the risks of any major abdominal operation in an overweight person.

5. Gastric bypass surgery can result in nutritional deficiencies, and long-term follow-up with your surgeon is essential. For some individuals this may need to be a life-long follow-up.

6. People who are very motivated, who develop healthy eating habits, and who adhere to a good exercise program generally achieve good results.

7. Benefits to your health are sometimes seen in as little as three months after surgery. Conditions that are often improved or eliminated with sustained weight loss include:

• High blood pressure: reduced or eliminated.

• High cholesterol: reduced or eliminated in many patients.

• Diabetes Mellitus: reduced or liminated in many patients. Reduces or preventsdevelopment of complications if your diabetes is severe. If you have borderline diabetes, the surgery helps prevent progression to diabetes mellitus.

• Heart disease: reduced risk of developing heart disease related to being overweight.

• Asthma: the number of asthma attacks and the severity of the attack is often reduced.

• Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): often greatly reduced or eliminated.

• Sleep Apnea: dramatically disappears within one year for many patients. If you snore, in many cases this will disappear.

• Stress Urinary Incontinence: improvement noted in many individuals. If you require surgery for this condition, the results are usually very successful because of the weight loss you have achieved.

• Back and Knee Arthritis: considerable relief is often noted after weight loss.

• Emotional Well-being: There is significant improvement in self-esteem for many people. The emotional problems associated with obesity often diminish or disappear. You will be more comfortable joining health clubs and participating in group exercise activities.

• Physical Well-being: You are now able to physically perform many activities that your weight prohibited you from participating in. Traveling in cars or using public transportation will no longer be a roadblock for you.

Risks Associated with Weight Loss Surgery

Obese individuals are prone to be at greater risk for complications during surgery due to the severity of their co-morbidities. A co-morbidity is an underlying disease. Some examples are hypertension, asthma, heart disease, or circulation problems—especially in the legs.

All abdominal operations carry the risks of bleeding, infection in the incision, potential problems with the heart and/or lungs, obstruction (blockage) of the intestine caused by adhesions, hernia through the incision, rejection of suture materials, and the risks associated with general anesthesia.

• Leakage of fluid from the stomach or intestine through the staples or sutures, which results in abdominal infections. This potentially serious, but rare, complication usually requires a second operation for drainage of the infectious fluid. This happens in less than one percent of this type of surgery.

• Injury to the spleen is a very uncommon complication, which may require removal of the spleen if bleeding cannot be controlled.

• Pneumonia occurs in less than one percent of the people who have this surgery.

• Pulmonary embolus (blood clot to the lungs) occurs in approximately one percent of the people who have this surgery. A surgeon may recommend a procedure to insert a filter in the vena cava (a large vein by which blood is returned to the heart) for a patient at high risk.

• After surgery for weight loss, individuals are prone to nutritional deficiencies. This is one of the reasons it is very important that you follow your nutritional plan, take the recommended vitamins, calcium and iron, as well as follow up with your surgeon as recommended.

• Mortality (death) from this surgery occurs in less than one-half percent (one in 200 cases reported) of the people who have this surgery.

• Developing ulcers in the stomach or small intestine is a rare complication that occurs in less than one percent of the people who have this surgery.

• Developing loose stools and/or abdominal cramps shortly after eating certain types of food is called “dumping”. These symptoms can be avoided by not eating the offending foods.