Gastric Bypass Complications Overview
A gastric bypass surgical procedure is one of several weight loss surgeries. Although weight loss can be achieved through a strict diet combined with an exercise regime, many people find that a gastric bypass offers rapid results.
The procedure includes restructuring the stomach so as to decrease its size. This is typically conducted on patients who suffer from morbid obesity and related medical conditions such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes.
Although most gastric bypass surgeries result in significant weight loss for obese patients, complications can arise. Risk is an inherent factor for all surgeries.
However, in weight loss surgeries, the complications may prove to be fatal. It is important to be aware of the possible gastric bypass complications before opting for the surgery.
Gastric Bypass Complications & Risks:
Leakage of the Anastomosis
In a gastric bypass procedure, surgeons reduce the size of the stomach with sutures or surgical staples.
Later, the natural healing ability of the body is counted upon to heal the areas with the staples and resume normal functions.
In some cases, this does not occur and leaks start to appear.
The fluid which leaks through the staples are gastric fluid and content that can adversely affect and infect the other organs in the body.
This is one of the foremost complications of a gastric bypass surgery.
Dumping Syndrome
Another complication that typically arises after a gastric bypass surgery is the dumping syndrome.
Usually, the body passes the food through the intestines in a gradual process.
However, after a gastric bypass, some foods, especially that contains high sugar content, passes quickly to the small intestine and creates uncomfortable sensations for patients.
They may suffer from palpitations of the heart, diarrhea, severe cramps and nausea.
To avoid the dumping syndrome, gastric bypass patients should avoid foods with high carbohydrate or sugar content such as syrups, honey, ice cream, and candy.
It is also important to make additional changes in the food plan such as taking more meals a day that are smaller in size. This will help the body to digest the food properly which will make patients feel light as opposed to feeling over-loaded.
Malnutrition
This is a complication associated with all weight loss surgeries, especially the gastric bypass. The surgical procedure will affect the body’s natural ability to absorb the nutrients from the daily diet.
This will result in several vitamin and mineral deficiencies such as iron and calcium. As it may not be possible for patients to consume the right type of food just after the surgery, doctors prescribe diet supplements to avoid deficiencies.
