Gastric Bypass Surgery Complications

Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure used to treat morbid obesity and the health complications that accompany such a condition. It is a surgical procedure which involves dividing the stomach into two parts, and then rearranging the small intestine to retain its connectivity to both parts. Gastric bypass surgeries bring about in a reduction in the volume of food that can be ingested at a given time, which leads to marked weight loss, and often reduced health complications that previously accompanied obesity. Typically, gastric bypass surgeries are considered for people with a BMI of 40 and above, and for people dealing with weight related health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure. However, there may be some serious gastric bypass surgery complications which you need to be aware of before you choose to go through with this procedure. To understand the possible gastric bypass complications, read on.

Gastric Bypass Surgery Procedure

There are essentially two types of gastric bypass procedures, restrictive and malabsorptive.

Restrictive Procedures
These do not interfere with the process of digestion, and generally deal with closing off parts of the stomach, which reduces the quantity of food that it can hold - this also promotes weight loss.

Malabsorptive Procedures
These are surgeries which combine restricting the size of stomach and partially bypassing the small intestine. They are generally more effective in promoting weight loss, and the rate of weight loss is quicker than that with restrictive surgery. There are essentially two types of malabsorptive surgery:

• Roux-en-Y Surgery - This is the preferred mode of gastric bypass surgery. In this, the stomach is stapled to create a small pouch, and a passage created to enable the food to bypass the part of the small intestine.
• Bileopancreatic Diversion - This is a more complicated procedure, involving the removal of portions of the stomach, connecting the remaining small pouch directly to the end of the small intestine, completely bypassing the duodenum.

Gastric Bypass Surgery Risks and Complications

There are a number of gastric bypass surgery complications that may crop up. In the event that you wish to undergo such a procedure, it's imperative to educate yourself about the possible complications of gastric bypass surgery, that you may encounter.

Blood Clots in the Legs
This is a complication that overweight people are likely to encounter, which can lead to further complications. Blood clots in the legs can travel through the blood stream and cause pulmonary embolism, by lodging in the arteries of the lung - this can even result in death.

Anastomotic leakage
This is a complication of gastric bypass surgery that is not uncommon. In this condition, there may be leakages that occur at the site of the suture or staples, which may cause gastrointestinal fluid to leak into the abdominal cavity and create rampant infections. In some cases these infections can be treated through antibiotics, however in some cases, further surgery may be required.

Dumping Syndrome
Normally, there exists a valve at the lower portion of the stomach, which controls the release of food into the bowel. A possible complication of gastric bypass surgery is a condition called Dumping Syndrome, wherein food travels too rapidly through the stomach into the small intestine, mainly undigested. Most often this occurs with foods high in sugar, oil or grease. This gives rise to conditions of extreme nausea, dizziness and bloating, and can induce vomiting and diarrhea.

Increased Risk of Gallstones
Some studies indicate that up to a third of patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery will develop gallstones. Gallstones can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort and are unfortunately, a very real complication of gastric bypass surgery. Some surgeons may recommend removal of the gall bladder to counteract this.

Nutritional Deficiencies
Since the duodenum is responsible for the absorption of a large number of nutrients, nutritional deficiencies are very likely to develop. To counter this, nutritional supplements need to be taken regularly. Iron in particular is very commonly found to be deficient and iron deficiency anemia may additionally develop as a gastric bypass surgery complication. Protein, iron, multivitamin and calcium supplements are a very important part of the recommended diet post surgery.

Pica
This is a disorder that is seen amongst some patients post gastric bypass surgery, where the person develops a compulsive desire to eat peculiar, non food items like starch, paper and commonly ice. Pica is generally a side effect of iron deficiency, which could be a possible cause for this to develop after gastric bypass surgery.

Death
In rare cases, complications of gastric bypass surgery can also lead to death. Your surgeon's proficiency and comfort with the procedure of gastric bypass surgery is an important factor to consider as this is a complicated surgery which requires a good deal of experience. In addition, some complications can arise as a result of the age and degree of obesity, as well as preexisting conditions.

Other Complications
In addition to the above, complications of gastric bypass surgery include pneumonia, lactose intolerance, incisional hernias, headaches, chronic constipation and depression.

Should you decide to undergo this operation, remember to discuss clearly with your surgeon, the complications of gastric bypass surgery and the lifestyle changes that you will need to make. Although gastric bypass surgeries can lead to rapid weight loss, they need to be accompanied by a rigid regime of a gastric bypass diet and exercise to maintain your weight. It may be a good idea to speak to other people who have been through this procedure so that you can understand the differences, good and bad that may arise. Knowing about gastric bypass surgery complications can help you make an informed choice when you look at the options in front of you. Good luck!