Gastric Bypass Procedures
All You Need to Know about Gastric Bypass procedures including risks, costs, complications,and recovery.
Gastric bypass surgery is done by separating a smaller portion of your stomach and affixing a bypass around a section of your stomach and small intestine. Generally, the procedure is done by stapling your stomach across the top separating it from the rest of your stomach. The pouch that you are free to use by then would only be the size of a walnut and can only hold an ounce of food or a half cup of fluid. The small intestine is then cut at its upper part, known as the duodenum, while its lower part or the second section of the small intestine is then sewn directly to the pouch.
This connection alters the direction of the food and allows the patient to feel full faster and longer and with fewer tendencies to eat more. Bypassing most of your stomach and upper section of your small intestine limits your ability to absorb calories. It must be understood though that even though the food never enters or leaves the lower part of your stomach, the stomach continues to stay healthy or even healthier, secreting digestive juices that mix with food in your small intestine.
Gastric bypass surgery may be done in two ways: traditional or laparoscopic. The traditional procedure for performing such surgery is through open surgery and with one long incision. The other way, laparoscopic is less complicated and is made only with short incisions in the abdomen and is performed with the use of a laparoscope. A laparoscope is a small tubular instrument with a small camera attached to its tip. This camera allows the surgeon to see inside your abdomen even with the short incision.
Comparing the two procedures, the laparoscopic technique would shorten your hospital stay since you are expected to recover faster. There are also fewer wound-related problems to expect. It is important though that the medical industry emphasizes the newness of this technique which means that long-term results have not yet been fully evaluated. It is also imperative for the patients to know that not everyone is an excellent candidate for this new procedure. A comprehensive and consultative talk with your surgeon whether this approach is appropriate for you would be best.
This surgery is performed under general anesthesia. For the comfort of future patients, the surgery is done while you are asleep. You will either be inhaling analgesics as a gas or receiving the anesthetic agent through an IV or intravenous line to keep you from waking up during the surgery.
During the surgery, a tube is passed through your nose to the upper part of your stomach pouch. Usually, this tube stays in overnight. This tube is connected to a suction machine after the surgery so as to keep the small stomach pouch empty and allow the staple line to heal.
Another tube that you may also have would be in the bypassed stomach. This comes out to one side of your abdomen and is removed after four to six weeks after the surgery. Skin problems such as irritation or infection may occur around the tube.
The surgery would usually take about four hours. After that, it’s all about maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly to ensure a long and healthy lifestyle.
