Gastric Bypass Complications Or Stomach Bypass Complications
There are gastric bypass or stomach bypass complications you need to be aware of before you undertake this form of weight loss surgery. It is a good idea to have all the relevant facts, so you can make an informed decision.
Gastric bypass just like any other type of surgery for that matter does come with its own complications. There is hardly any surgery performed anywhere in the world that is free of risks.
However something to note is that, gastric bypass or stomach bypass is not performed for flimsy reasons. Usually people undertaking this form of weight loss surgery have tried some of the simpler methods of weight loss without much success.
Besides, a lot of people undertaking the stomach bypass surgery have associated health problems caused by their obesity.
In fact, to these people the improvement of their obesity-related health problems is the driving force behind their decision.
So the point I am making is you have got to balance the health benefits of gastric bypass to the risks associated with roux en y stomach bypass. It is a risk-benefit analysis that will enable you reach that conclusion as to whether it is a good fit for you or not.
So, what are the gastric bypass complications or stomach bypass complications you need to be aware of?
- Being a surgical undertaking, bleeding can occur. This is usually mild to moderate but bear in mind that on occasion, it can be severe. When severe bleeding occurs, you may need to be transfused with blood.
- Wound infection can occur, but this is relatively less with the laparoscopic approach compared to the open.
- Problems with the anaesthesia and anaesthetic medications being used, for instance, if you have an allergy to the medications.
- After surgery, some people can form blood clots in the legs and lungs. It is hoped that the blood-thinning injections you will be given will reduce the risk of this event happening.
- Sadly, death can occur but in the hands of an experienced bariatric surgeon, the chances of this happening are fairly low.
Other stomach bypass complications include:
- Vomiting –this is more likely to occur when food is not chewed properly before swallowing or if food is eaten too quickly.
- Another gastric bypass complication is heartburn or indigestion.
- Anastomotic leaks – this is where a leakage occurs at the point where the stomach pouch is attached to the small intestine. It can be corrected but usually by re-operating.
- Just as leaks can occur at the attachment point, so can it become narrowed too – what we refer to as strictures, making it difficult for eaten food to move from the stomach to the small bowel.
- Dumping syndrome – this is usually caused by the fact that the normal flow of food through the bowel has been re-arranged by the very nature of the stomach bypass.
- Nutritional deficiencies – the bypassed part of the small bowel means some nutrients like iron, fat soluble vitamins A & D, vitamin B12, calcium do not get absorbed.
- Chronic lack of these essential nutrients can lead to health problems like iron deficiency anaemia, osteoporosis, neurological problems.
Therefore every individual that has undergone a gastric bypass procedure must take nutritional supplements either by way of pills, injections or nasal sprays.
The above are the gastric bypass complications you need to be aware of and like I said before, your decision should be based on weighing those risks against the health benefits of undergoing the operation.
