The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a bariatric or weight loss surgery that involves creating a small functional pouch in the stomach and connecting it directly to the small intestine. The primary objective of the procedure is to shorten the
food’s journey inside the GI tract, thereby aiding in weight loss.
The procedure is often treated as a last resort in patients struggling to lose weight even after trying different diet and exercise routines.
Table Of Contents
- Why is Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass done?
- How is the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery Done?
- Recovery after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
- What are the Risks of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?
Why is Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass done?
Obese patients with life-threatening conditions might consider undergoing gastric bypass surgery. Patients with any of the below conditions might have to consider bypass surgery:
- Heart disease
- Acid reflux
- High cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Cancer
- Infertility
- Obstructive sleep apnea, etc.
How is the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery Done?
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass involves the traditional (open) gastric bypass surgery or laparoscopic techniques for patients who want minimally invasive surgery.
The details of the surgery should be discussed at length with the surgeon during the initial consultation. The laparoscopic approach is considered safer and more refined than open surgeries.
Here’s what happens during the surgery:
- The patient is administered general anesthesia to keep him comfortable during the surgery.
- Once they are sedated, the surgery site is prepped with antiseptics to reduce the risks of infection.
- The surgeon then makes two or multiple small incisions in the abdomen. A laparoscope is sent through one of the incisions and the instruments through another.
- With the surgical instrument, the surgeon cuts across the top of the stomach, detaching it from the remainder of the stomach. This creates a “new” pouch and a walnut-shaped stomach with less capacity.
- The surgeon then makes an incision in parts of the small intestine and directly sews it into the “new stomach.”
- This creates a bypass that allows the food to travel through the smaller portion of the stomach and skip the majority of the small intestine.
The procedure imposes very minimal risks when done under the expertise of an experienced surgeon. It takes a few hours for the surgery to be done.
Recovery after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Once the surgery is completed, the patient will be wheeled into the recovery room until the anesthesia wears off. After the surgery, the patient will be asked to take a liquid diet, which will be changed after a day or two per the surgeon’s instructions.
To ward off the pain and risks of infections, your surgeon will prescribe analgesics and antibiotics to take after the surgery.
Besides that, the surgeon will also prescribe vitamins and mineral supplements to reduce the risks of malnutrition after the surgery.
The overall recovery period can range between 3-6 weeks after the surgery.
The patients will have to report to their surgeon every week or every few weeks for the first few months to track the weight loss progress in the patient.
What are the Risks of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is a fairly safe procedure with minimal risks of bleeding, infection, or lesions in the GI tract.
However, some patients report experiencing certain symptoms during their weight loss journey post-surgery, including:
- Fatigue
- Body aches
- Chills
- Dry skill
- Hair fall
- Sudden mood changes
Severe symptoms like fever, malnutrition, drastic weight loss (over 15 kgs in a month) should be reported to the surgeon immediately.
