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Gastric bypass

Definition: Gastric bypass is the surgical procedure for obesity treatment. This involves creating a stomach pouch that restricts food intake. Small intestine is attached directly to new stomach pouch, bypassing the lower stomach and duodenum.
The patient eats less after surgery as he/she feels full sooner, leading to loss of weight. Surgery is possible via Laparoscope Open Incision

Why is it needed?

This surgery is prescribed when obese patients cannot lose weight by other methods.
Gastric Bypass

The ideal candidate for surgery:

  • BMI -body mass index equal to 40 or more
  • Those whose BMI is 35 or more, but suffer from medical conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnoea, osteoarthritis, heart disease and so on, and would benefit from weight loss
  • Aged between 18 -55 years and willing to followed prescribed diet (and restrictions)

Facts and figures

  • Obesity causes premature deaths worldwide. It is ranked second in the cause of preventable deaths in US, where it causes 300,000 deaths every year.
  • Linner and Kremen performed the first surgery, which led to the modern method of bariatric surgery

Risk and Complications

  • Reaction to medication or anesthesia
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Blood clots
  • Pneumonia
  • Bleeding
  • Injuries to the intestine, stomach, or adjacent organ/s
  • Dumping syndrome

Advantages

  • Marked weight reduction after surgery. It makes life comfortable as patients as it eases daily activities and movement.
  • Definite improvement is observed in medical conditions such as asthma, hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnoea etc.

Disadvantages

  • Surgery may increase chance of developing gall bladder stones.
  • A chance for developing Hernia.
  • Malnutrition may occur leading to Osteoporosis, Anemia, and/ or Depression.
  • Leaking via the staples in stomach post-surgery may need emergency surgery

Preoperative Preparation

  • Full-body physical examination
  • Blood plus urinalysis
  • Ultrasound – abdomen
  • Visiting surgeon to have a list of medicines for pre and post-surgery
  • Inform surgeon about alcohol or smoking habits
  • Nutritional counseling
  • Receiving counseling for mental health, to cope with emotional and physical changes post surgery
  • Arrange work leave, help at home and driving, and post-operative care
  • Fasting after midnight before surgery
  • Medical tourist should select a handicapped-accessible hotel near hospital post-surgery recuperation

Postoperative Preparation

  • Patients have stay for 3-5 days in hospital post-surgery. The catheter is used to drain body fluids, which is removed within 1-3 days post-surgery
  • Pain medication is given
  • Patients have to ingest liquids for 1-3 days, then soft food is allowed
Gastric Band

Dos, Don’ts and Precautions

  • Do eat small amounts at one go
  • Avoid foods having simple sugars like juice, candy, juice, beverages, condiments, soft drinks to avoid ‘Dumping syndrome’
  • Do follow diet prescribed strictly. Exercise regularly to receive best outcome of surgery
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