Dr Prem Medical Tourism Logo

Gastric Bypass – Common Medical Tourism Procedures

Gastric Bypass surgery

Definition:

Gastric bypass is a surgical procedure performed to treat obesity. The procedure involves creating a small stomach pouch to restrict food intake. The small intestine is directly attached to the new stomach pouch, bypassing the lower stomach and some part of the intestine (duodenum). This system causes the patient to feel full after eating a small amount of food and the bypassing part of the intestines restricts food absorption, which ultimately leads to weight loss.

The surgery can be performed through:

  • Open incision
  • Laproscope

Why it is needed:

The surgery is advised for obese patients who are unable to lose weight with other treatments. Candidates for this surgery are patients with following symptoms:

  • A body mass index (BMI)of 40 or more.
  • A BMI of 35 or more and are suffering from certain medical conditions that can be improved with weight loss such as sleep apnoea, diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart disease etc.
  • Aged between 18 to 55 years.

Facts and Figures:

  • Obesity is a major cause of premature death worldwide. It is considered as the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States, numbering in approx 300,000 deaths per year.
  • The first effective surgery for obesity was introduced by Kremen and Linner, however the limitations of the surgery led to the research of improved options, which resulted in the latest methods of bariatric surgery.

Advantages and Disadvantages:

Advantages:

  • The marked reduction of weight after surgery makes life more comfortable as it makes daily movement and activities easier.
  • There will be definite improvement in medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnoea etc.

Disadvantages:

  • The surgery increases the chances of developing gall stones.
  • Hernia may develop after the surgery.
  • Patients may suffer from nutritional deficiency leading to anaemia osteoporosis or depression.
  • Leaking through the staples in the stomach after surgery may require an emergency follow-up procedure.

Risks and Complications:

  • Reaction to anaesthesia or medication.
  • Blood clots
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Bleeding
  • Pneumonia
  • Injuries to stomach, intestine or adjacent organ.
  • Dumping syndrome

Pre-operative and Post-operative care:

Pre-operative preparation:

  • A complete physical examination
  • Blood and urinalysis
  • Ultrasound of abdomen
  • Visit a surgeon and obtain a list of prescribed medication as well as instructions on any medicines that need to be discontinued before surgery.
  • Inform surgeon about smoking and alcohol consumption patterns.
  • Nutritional counselling
  • Consultation with a mental health provider to prepare yourself mentally for the surgery and the changes following the procedure.
  • Arrangements for leave from work, help at home, help with driving, and for post operative rehabilitation.
  • Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery.
  • Medical tourists are advised to select a comfortable, accessible hotel room equipped with handicapped facilities for post surgery recovery.

Post-operative care:

  • Most patients are required to stay in hospital for 3-5 days after the surgery. A catheter is attached to drain fluid, and will usually be removed within 1-3 days of the surgery.
  • Patients are given medication to alleviate pain and prevent other complications.
  • For the first 1-3 days patients are only permitted to consume liquids and then can gradually introduce soft foods.

Do’s, Don’ts and Precautions:

  • Do eat small amounts of food at a time.
  • Avoid food containing simple sugars like candy, juice, ice cream, condiments and soft drinks to prevent ‘Dumping syndrome’.
  • Follow the exercise and diet regime prescribed by the dietician strictly to ensure optimal results.

Recent Articles:

Scroll to Top