Gastric bypasses (a surgery in which food goes into a surgically made pouch and the
stomach is made smaller) are a surgery that is often done for weight loss. Excess weight is
removed so that weight-related health problems are less likely to occur such as
gastroesophageal reflux disease (where the food pipe lining is irritated by bile or stomach acid)
and obstructive sleep apnea (the blockage of a person’s airflow during sleep). During the
surgery incisions are made in the abdomen. In some cases large incisions are made into the
abdomen, in other cases the laparoscopic technique (making small incisions and inserting
instruments through the incisions) is used. The stomach will be sealed off from the rest of a
person’s body and a pouch is created which will hold food in the body. Part of the small intestine
will be sewn directly to the pouch so that the digestive system can still occur.
People who have a body mass index (the body mass divided by the square of the body’s
height) is forty or higher, or patients who have a health problem that is caused by a person’s
weight. Having a gastric bypass will result in the removal of excess waste along with improving
or completely eliminating weight-related health issues. Although, there are several long and short
term complication possibilities involved in gastric bypass surgery. Some of the short-term
complications include anastomotic leaks (two channels that have been connected do not seal
properly and leak), hernias (when an organ pushes through the muscle or tissue containing it),
and a small bowel obstruction (when the small or large intestine is blocked). Some of the long-
term complications include dumping syndrome (when the stomach empties into the small
intestine too quickly), malabsorption (when the body does not effectively absorb nutrients),
malnutrition (when the body experiences an imbalance of nutrients), cholelithiasis (hardened
pieces of bile formed in the gallbladder), and bile reflux (when the valves that keep bile from
backwashing into the esophagus and stomach are not functioning properly).
stomach is made smaller) are a surgery that is often done for weight loss. Excess weight is
removed so that weight-related health problems are less likely to occur such as
gastroesophageal reflux disease (where the food pipe lining is irritated by bile or stomach acid)
and obstructive sleep apnea (the blockage of a person’s airflow during sleep). During the
surgery incisions are made in the abdomen. In some cases large incisions are made into the
abdomen, in other cases the laparoscopic technique (making small incisions and inserting
instruments through the incisions) is used. The stomach will be sealed off from the rest of a
person’s body and a pouch is created which will hold food in the body. Part of the small intestine
will be sewn directly to the pouch so that the digestive system can still occur.
People who have a body mass index (the body mass divided by the square of the body’s
height) is forty or higher, or patients who have a health problem that is caused by a person’s
weight. Having a gastric bypass will result in the removal of excess waste along with improving
or completely eliminating weight-related health issues. Although, there are several long and short
term complication possibilities involved in gastric bypass surgery. Some of the short-term
complications include anastomotic leaks (two channels that have been connected do not seal
properly and leak), hernias (when an organ pushes through the muscle or tissue containing it),
and a small bowel obstruction (when the small or large intestine is blocked). Some of the long-
term complications include dumping syndrome (when the stomach empties into the small
intestine too quickly), malabsorption (when the body does not effectively absorb nutrients),
malnutrition (when the body experiences an imbalance of nutrients), cholelithiasis (hardened
pieces of bile formed in the gallbladder), and bile reflux (when the valves that keep bile from
backwashing into the esophagus and stomach are not functioning properly).
