Bariatric surgery - gastric bypass; Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; Gastric bypass - Roux-en-Y

Gastric bypass is major surgery and has many risks. Some of these risks are very serious. You should discuss these with your surgeon.

The risk of surgery itself or for problems after surgery may be greater than normal if you are:

• Unable to walk even short distances. This increases your risk of blood clots, lung problems, and pressure sores (also called bed sores).
• A child who is still growing
• An adult older than 60 to 65 years

Risks for any anesthesia include:

• Allergic reactions to medicines
• Breathing problems

Risks for any surgery include:

• Blood clots in the legs that may travel to your lungs
• Infection, including in the incision, lungs (pneumonia), bladder, or kidney
• Blood loss
• Heart attack or stroke during surgery

Risks or problems that may occur during or soon after gastric bypass surgery include:

• Injury to the stomach, intestines, or other organs during surgery
• Leaking through the staples in the stomach after surgery. This may require an emergency surgery.
• Depression

The risks or problems of weight-loss surgery that may occur over time include:

• Breakdown of the pouch, which would require another surgery to repair it
• The opening between your stomach pouch and the small intestine may get narrower. This may require another surgery.
• Anemia from low iron or vitamin B12 levels
• Low calcium levels, which can cause early osteoporosis or other bone disorders
• Gallstones and gallbladder attacks, which occur more often when you lose weight quickly.
• Gastritis (inflamed stomach lining), heartburn , or stomach ulcers
• Poor nutrition
• Vomiting from eating more than your stomach pouch can hold
• Dumping syndrome. This is when the contents in your stomach move through your small intestine quickly. This causes discomfort and poor nutrition.
• Incisional hernia, which is much more common when an open procedure is done. An incisional hernia is a bulging of tissue through the site of your incision.
• Kidney stones

Images

Dumping syndrome

Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD)

Adjustable gastric banding

Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch

Roux-en-Y stomach surgery for weight loss

Vertical banded gastroplasty

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Gastric bypass surgery Overview

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Gastric bypass surgery Recovery

Review Date: 05/17/2010
Reviewed By: Shabir Bhimji MD, PhD, Specializing in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland , TX Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)