Gastric Bypass
A gastric bypass is a major operation that changes the way the digestive system works. This weight loss surgery works by making your stomach smaller and removing part of your bowel to make your digestive system shorter. Once the ideal weight has been reached it remains stable. This is the most effective procedure for candidates with a high BMI.
The benefits of the gastric bypass procedure very much outweigh the risks. In general:
- 75% of patients are expected to lose 75 to 80% of their excess body weight, most of which is lost in the first two years following gastric bypass surgery
- There are major improvements in risk factors for heart disease and cancer
- Around 70-80% of gastric bypass patients with hypertension will come off medication and cholesterol levels will fall
- ost type II diabetics will be cured
- After gastric bypass surgery there will be major improvements in a whole range of weight-associated conditions, including sleep apnoea, asthma, joint pain, arthritis, reflux, fatigue, shortness of breath
- Patients report less depression, improved self- esteem and confidence and an overall increased sense of well-being.
During Surgery
Your surgeon will use surgical staples to create a pouch from the upper part of the stomach. A section of your small intestine is then cut out, making it shorter. It is re-connected to the pouch so that food bypasses part of your digestive system and is absorbed less easily by the body. Gastric bypass can be done using keyhole (laparoscopic) or open surgery. The operation may take two to three hours.
Keyhole surgery - About five small cuts (one to two centimetres long) are made on your abdomen and chest. Your surgeon will insert a tube-like telescopic camera into a cut, and view the area either by looking directly through this, or at pictures it sends to a video screen. The operation is done using specially designed surgical instruments. Afterwards, the skin cuts are closed with two or three stitches.
Open surgery - A single cut (about 30cm long) is made on your upper abdomen. The cut is closed using stitches and staples.
After Surgery
For the first 24 hours you will only be allowed to drink clear fluids. After this your surgeon or dietician may start you on a liquid diet. While you are unable to drink you will have a drip in your arm to keep you hydrated.
You may have a catheter to drain urine from your bladder into a bag beside your bed. You may also have a tube running out of a small hole in your abdomen. This drains fluid into a bag.
You may feel or be sick after eating, especially if you try to eat too much. If you eat sugary foods it can make you feel faint and sweaty. This is called "dumping" syndrome. You will usually need to take vitamin supplements due to the restricted diet, and your bowel absorbs less well than before surgery.
