« Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy | Home | Three Weight Loss Myths May Be Dangerous To Your Health And Well Being »
Gastric Bypass Operations for Bariatric Surgery: Things You Need to Know
Gastric bypass is a type of bariatric surgery intended to cut down food intake. A small pouch is created to limit the amount of food you can take and bypasses on segments of the small intestine are constructed to reduce its ability to absorb nutrients. The surgery is a complicated procedure performed under general anesthesia. The surgery takes about one to four hours followed by a one-to seven-day stay in the hospital.
How is gastric byspass performed? There are currently two techniques for gastric bypass, Roux-en-Y-gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion bypass.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
Roux-en Y gastric bypass (RGB) is the most commonly performed gastric bypass procedure in the United States because it is less complicated and least likely to result in nutritional difficulties. The procedure creates a small stomach pouch to limit food intake and the small intestine is attached to the pouch to reduce calorie and nutrient absorption. The pouch is commonly referred to as stomach stapling.
RGB can be done in two ways: traditional and laparoscopic Traditional Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is performed by open surgery with one long incision. Laparoscopic RGB on the other hand uses a thin instrument called laparoscope that allows the surgeon to clearly view the inside of the abdomen on a TV monitor. This procedure causes less scarring and lets the patient recover faster.
Biliopancreatic diversion bypass (extensive gastric bypass)
Biliopancreatic diversion bypass is more extensive than Roux-en-Y.It is a complicated gastric bypass that aims for a smaller stomach. The procedure removes the lower portion of the stomach and a small pouch is left to connect directly to the final segment of the small intestine. This procedure bypasses both the duodenum and jejunum to cause malabsorption of nutrients. Like to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, biliopancreatic diversion bypass is employed through open surgery and with one long incision. It leaves a permanent scar. It is not as widely used as RGB because of the risk for nutritional deficiencies.
Benefits of Gastric Bypass
People who undergo bariatric weight loss surgery can achieve significant loss of weight in 2 years. Since a large section of the stomach is bypassed, only a small pouch is left that severely restricts the amount of food that the person can consume. Patients must consume highly nutritious and protein-rich food to meet dietary requirements. Those who undergo the operation will most likely no longer able to tolerate sugars and carbohydrates which contribute to weight loss.
Gastric bypass surgery also has positive effects on weight-related health concerns such as heart diseases and high blood pressure. Type 2 diabetes can also be eradicated by gastric bypass surgery.
