An Overview of Gastric Bypass Surgery and other Bariatric Procedures

The Aftermath of Bariatric Surgery

• The Info
• The Aftermath
• The Purpose
• The Success
• The Failure

Patients usually require a 4-6 day hospital stay for gastric bypass and 2-3 days for laparoscopic surgery. They usually recovery time is 3 to five weeks. The main side effect of gastric bypass surgery is dumping syndrome, which occurs when food moves too fast through the digestive tract. Dumping syndrome causes nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness and diarrhea. There are some instances where patients are too weak to move so they must lie down until symptoms pass. This is especially caused by sweets and such, which are refined, high-calorie foods.

Gastric Bypass Patients are at great risk for nutrient deficeincy and complications from infection in incisions. Hernias, especially in the stomach due to vomitting, are not uncommon. Pateitns should be very careful with what they eat and what they do during the sensitive time a month after surgery.

The Purpose of Bariatric Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is usually considered when the patient has a body mass index greater than 40, along with a life-threatening or debilitating illness related to the excess weight. There are a number of diseases related to morbid obesity, including diabtetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and sleep apnea. It is a last resort treatment when everything else has been tried by the patient and doctor. For some patients the only way to sustain long term weight loss is with means that are more extreme than calorie restriction and exercise, which most obese patients have a hard time commiting to.

Some of the following conditions are considered:

• Patient has been obese for at least 5 years
• Patient is between the ages of 18 and 65
• Patient does not have a history of alcohol abuse
• Patient does not have untreated depression