Bariatric surgeries are gaining rapid growth and momentum in the medical field. The introduction of advanced technologies paves the way for more advanced and minimally invasive procedures, the mini gastric bypass being one of them.
Mini Gastric Bypass (MGB) is a popular reversible laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery that promotes weight loss. This procedure is known as One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass. Compared to traditional gastric bypass surgery, MGB takes less time and has a quicker recovery period.
Table Of Contents
- What is the Procedure of Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery?
- What is recovery like after a Mini Bypass Surgery?
- What are the risks involved in Mini Gastric Bypass?
What is the Procedure of Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Mini gastric bypass surgery is a laparoscopic surgery performed under general anesthesia. However, instead of cutting open the abdomen like in traditional bypass surgery, the surgeon makes small incisions in MGB, through which the laparoscope is inserted.
Two or more incisions are made in the abdomen – one for the laparoscope and the other for inserting the surgical instruments to conduct the surgery.
Once the initial prep for the surgery is done, the actual procedure is divided into two stages:
Reducing the size of the stomach
Once the patient is put under sedation, the surgeon then moves on to make the incisions and insert the laparoscope for a clear view of the insides. The first step of the surgery is to reduce the size of the stomach so that it accommodates less food and the patient feels full quickly. The surgeon staples the stomach into a long slender pouch during this stage until the antral opening. This reduces the surface area of the stomach, reducing its capacity in the process.
Creating the bypass
Once the stomach’s size is reduced, the next step of the surgery is to create the bypass. First, the surgeon chooses around 150-200 cm long part of the small intestine for the anastomosis procedure.
The portion of the small intestine chosen for this part of the surgery depends on the metabolic efficiency of the patient.
Following that, the mid-portion of the small intestine is directly attached to the “new stomach” to create an omega loop. This makes a bypass tract for the ingested food to pass through the lower portion of the stomach and then to
the duodenum and the part of the small intestine. Once the entire bypass surgery is completed, all the open incisions are sutured back in place.
What is recovery like after a Mini Bypass Surgery?
Mini Bypass Surgery has a quicker recovery compared to traditional bypass surgery. After the procedure, the patient is wheeled into the recovery room until the anesthesia wears off.
The patient has to stay in the hospital for two days under observation. Your surgeon will prescribe medications for pain and potent infections during this period. The patient can’t eat food for the first two days after the surgery. Following the initial recovery, the patient is put on a liquid diet for the initial days, followed by soft or pureed foods.
Undergoing the mini gastric bypass surgery allows the patients to lose up to 10 kgs per month following the procedure. However, patients need to be on a healthy diet and lead an active lifestyle to maintain the results of weight loss.
What are the risks involved in Mini Gastric Bypass?
Although potentially safe, mini gastric bypass imposes a few complications as any other surgery would. Some of them include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Accidental leaks in the GI tract
- Gallstones
- Malnutrition
- Intractable Bile Reflux
- Dumping syndrome (in rare cases)
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Marginal ulcers
