Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric Bypass Surgery is a medical procedure that's often used to treat morbid obesity. If you're considering gastric bypass surgery you should keep in mind that it's a life-changing decision. The surgery divides the stomach into a small upper pouch and a much larger, lower remnant pouch. It then re-arranges the small intestine to allow both pouches to stay connected to it. Gastric bypass surgery generally leads to a significant reduction in the functional volume of the stomach. The intended result is dramatic weight loss, and it's believed that the surgery can reduce the death rate of morbidly obese people up to 40%.

Why People Have Gastric Bypass Surgery

People who meet the following criteria often consider Gastric Bypass Surgery:

100 pounds or more above your ideal body weight?
A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater?
A BMI of 35 or greater, and one or more co-morbid conditions?

What Gastric Bypass Surgery Does

The gastric bypass reduces the size of the stomach by well over 90% of its original size. While a normal stomach can stretch, sometimes to over 100 ml, the pouch created by the gastric bypass surgery can be just 15 ml in size. When a person who has had gastric bypass surgery eats a small amount of food, the first response is a stretching of the wall of the stomach pouch, stimulating nerves which tell the brain that the stomach is full.

Gastric Bypass Surgery Complications

Any major surgery poses risks, and gastric bypass surgery is no different. While some risks are common among all abdominal operations, there are specific risks related to Bariatric Surgery. Someone who chooses to undergo bariatric surgery should know about the following risks:

Infection
Hemorrhage
Hernia
Bowel Obstruction
Venous Thromboembolism

People considering bariatric surgery should find an experienced surgeon at a well equipped hospital that supports the complete well being of the patient and their medical, nutritional and psychological needs. Talking with other gastric bypass patients will also help in the search for selecting the right hospital and surgeon. In fact, choosing the right surgeon and hospital can be critical. Many patients have suffered complications during and after surgery which has forced them to seek out a medical malpractice attorney.