Medical Health Encyclopedia

Gastric bypass

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A B C D E F G H I K L M O P R S T U V

Roux-en-Y stomach surgery for weight loss Adjustable gastric banding Vertical banded gastroplasty Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch Dumping syndrome

Overview Recovery Risks

Gastric bypass

Alternative Names:

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

Definition:

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Gastric bypass surgery is one type of procedure that can be used to cause significant weight loss if you are very obese. The surgery reduces your body's intake of calories. Calorie reduction is accomplished in two ways:

1. After the surgery, your stomach is smaller. You feel full faster and learn to reduce the amount that you eat at any given time.
2. Part of your stomach and small intestines are literally bypassed (skipped over) so that fewer calories are absorbed. Unfortunately, sometimes nutrients are lost as well.

The surgery is only right for you if you meet certain strict criteria described later in this article.

Description:

Prior to any weight loss operation, your doctor will give you a complete medical examination and evaluate your overall health.

A psychological evaluation will be given to you. This will determine whether you are ready to adhere to a healthier lifestyle. If you are not ready to make lifestyle changes (and have not tried hard to do so already), you will not be considered eligible for the procedure. Without changing your lifestyle, the surgery will not be a success.

You will also receive extensive nutritional counseling before (and after) your surgery.

The surgery is performed under anesthesia. There are two basic steps:

• STEP 1 -- The first step in the surgical procedure makes your stomach smaller. The surgeon divides the stomach into a small upper section and a larger bottom section using staples that are similar to stitches. The top section of the stomach (called the pouch) will hold your food.
• STEP 2 -- After the stomach has been divided, the surgeon connects a section of the small intestine to the pouch. When you eat, the food will now travel from the pouch through this new connection ("Roux limb"), bypassing the lower portion of the stomach. The surgeon will then reconnect the base of the Roux limb with the remaining portion of the small intestines from the bottom of the stomach, forming a y-shape.