Are you considering having weight loss surgery? If you are talking with your physician and researching different options, it’s important to take the time to explore your options. There are different surgical options for weight loss and what qualifies a person for bariatric surgery can help you decide which option may be best for you.

Why Do Some People Choose Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery is an alternative tool for individuals who need to lose a significant amount of weight and for whom diet and exercise alone have not worked or for those experiencing significant health issues related to obesity.

Because obesity-related illnesses often improve or resolve after significant weight loss, bariatric surgery can be a useful tool to not only help with weight loss but to help improve overall health.

Most weight-loss surgeries are performed laparoscopically, which means they are minimally invasive. Bariatric surgery procedures can help facilitate weight loss by restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold, causing malabsorption of nutrients, or combining both.

Bariatric surgeries are usually divided into three different categories:

Restrictive: Limits food intake by reducing the size of the stomach

Malabsorptive: Limits food absorption by bypassing parts of the small intestine

Combination: Restrictive and Malabsorptive

Gastric bypass procedures are a combination of restriction and malabsorption.

What Is Gastric Bypass?

Gastric bypass is one of the most common types of bariatric surgeries. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass involves stapling the stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch that holds food. Then a portion of the small intestine is formed into a Y-shape. The smaller Y-shaped portion of the intestine is connected to the new stomach pouch. Therefore, food that is being digested bypasses the first part of the small intestine and travels directly into the lower part of the small intestine. By bypassing the first two sections of the small intestine, the number of calories and nutrients absorbed into the body is restricted.

Risk Factors Associated with Gastric Bypass

Overall, gastric bypass surgery can be a useful tool to help patients who are suffering from obesity and obesity-related illnesses. However, all surgical procedures involve some risk. Some of the risks and complications associated with gastric bypass procedures include peritonitis, stomal stenosis, dumping syndrome, and malnutrition.

Peritonitis

Peritonitis is the inflammation of the peritoneum, the smooth membrane that lines the abdominal cavity. One of the most severe complications associated with gastric bypass is a stomach leak that results in peritonitis. Symptoms related to peritonitis due to stomach leak may include:

• Hiccups
• Fever
• Increased abdominal pain
• Rapid heart rate

Stomal Stenosis

When a tightening and narrowing of the opening between the new stomach and intestine occurs after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, this is referred to as stomal stenosis. The immediate symptoms are vomiting after eating or drinking.

Stomal stenosis can be treated but should be addressed as soon as any symptoms appear.

Dumping Syndrome

Dumping syndrome occurs when food moves too quickly from the stomach into the small intestine after eating. It can result in cramps and diarrhea as soon as a few minutes after eating. The type of dumping syndrome a person has is based on when symptoms begin.

Early Dumping Syndrome occurs 10-30 minutes after eating.

Approximately ¾ of the people who experience dumping syndrome experience early dumping. Symptoms may include sweating, feeling dizzy, rapid heart rate, feeling uncomfortably full or bloated.

Late Dumping Syndrome usually occurs 1-3 hours after eating.

Approximately ¼ of those affecting with dumping syndrome have late-onset symptoms. Symptoms of late dumping syndrome may include weakness, dizziness, hunger, fatigue, confusion, shaking, and rapid heart rate.

Malnutrition

A procedure that is malabsorptive, like gastric bypass, limits the nutrients the body can absorb. To avoid malnutrition from vitamin deficiency after gastric bypass, it is important to make sure the diet is supplemented with proper nutrients.

Because the procedure is also restrictive, eating more significant amounts is not possible. Therefore, taking vitamin supplements should be a lifelong practice following gastric bypass. Malnutrition can cause other health issues, so it’s important to keep follow-up appointments with the surgeon and nutritionist to monitor weight loss and overall health. is gastric bypass safe.

Benefits and Risks

Before committing to any type of surgery, it’s important to consider both the risks and benefits. Talking with your primary care provider and discussing your present health and goals for weight loss and health, your overall health can help determine if gastric bypass or any other bariatric surgery is a good alternative for you.

Obesity is one of the leading contributors to other health-related risks and illnesses. People who are obese are at higher risk of developing heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), Diabetes, sleep apnea, and bone and joint issues. With weight loss, the risk of developing these diseases is decreased. Further, weight loss can reduce symptoms of or resolve these health issues.

Because gastric bypass surgery is effective in helping treat obesity and obesity-related issues, a physician may recommend the procedure if traditional weight loss methods have been unsuccessful, a patient has a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40, or a patient has a body mass index greater than 35 with other co-morbidities.

Guidelines for Qualifying for Gastric Bypass Surgery

Although bariatric surgery can reduce the risk of obesity-related health issues, it can also pose risks and complications.

Because of potential risks, there is a recommended screening process to see if bariatric surgery is appropriate.

Some criteria that prospective bariatric patients should meet include:

• Unsuccessful weight loss attempts
• Body mass index greater than 40
• BMI 35 or higher with weight-related severe health problems
• A teenager who has gone through puberty with a body mass index of 35 or more with obesity-related health problems

When evaluating gastric bypass, the health care team will consider weight and nutrition history, current medical/health condition, age, psychological status, and the patient’s motivation. While all of these issues are important, because bariatric surgery requires lifelong changes, psychological status and motivation are especially crucial parts of the pre-approval process.

Is Gastric Bypass Really Safe?

It’s essential to keep in mind that all surgeries have both benefits and risks. However, most research indicates that gastric bypass surgery is a safe procedure. The long-term chances of remaining obese are much higher than the risks associated with weight loss surgery for most people. For instance, a person who suffers from morbid obesity is more likely to experience serious illness or death related to that illness (such as heart disease) than he or she would from gastric bypass surgery.

Deciding to Have Gastric Bypass Surgery

The most important thing to remember is, this is about you and your life goals regarding health. If you are considering having gastric bypass surgery, the first step is to make an appointment with your primary care provider.

He/she will be able to discuss your health history and any issues that may determine whether you should have gastric bypass or any other bariatric surgery. Be sure and make a list of questions or concerns you have and ask them.

Your primary physician will likely offer a list of bariatric surgeons with whom you can schedule a consultation to move forward.