Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the most common weight loss procedure performed in the United States annually.  Once done via traditional open surgery, advances in minimally invasive surgical techniques now allow most surgeries to be performed laparoscopically with 5 to 6 small incisions.

Surgical Diagram of the Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass 

     A new small stomach pouch, holding between 2/3 and 1 ounce of liquid is created by dividing the top part of the stomach.  In order to absorb and digest food, your small intestine is divided a portion of it brought up to the new stomach pouch, "bypassing the big portion of your stomach".  The other end of the small intestine is reconnected to another portion of small intestine further downstream to allow mixing and drainage of stomach acid, bile and digestive enzymes.

     Surgery typically lasts 2 hours and the average hospital stay is between 2 to 3 days.  Patient's lose weight because their new small stomach doesn't stretch when eating food and people feel full and satisfied with very small meals.  Also, because the majority of the stomach is bypassed, many patients experience a significant decrease in the size of their hunger also leading to eating less.

     The average patient will lose 15 to 30 lbs during the first post-operative month, followed by 10 to 15 lbs a month until they achieve their goal weight.  By the end of the first 12 to 18 months after surgery, most patient have lost 75% of their excess weight.

All surgery comes with risk.  The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a standard and safe operation for weight loss but does come with its own set of risks.

• Bleeding from staple line or anastomosis (surgical connections)
• Leak or disruption from staple line or anastomosis
• Unrecognized injury to abdominal contents
• Bleeding from surgery requiring transfusion or re-operation
• Stricture or narrowing at the surgical connections
• Ulcer formation at the surgical connections
• Small obstruction
• Vitamin deficiencies

• Gold standard for surgical weight loss in the United States
• May lead to complete remission of Type II Diabetes
• Can be performed laparosopically in greater than 98% of patients

• Increased chance of open operation if you have had a previous operation.
• Some diabetics will not have a resolution of their diabetes
• Lifelong risk of ulcer formation at the stomach & small intestine junction
• Not indicated for certain medical conditions

Want to learn more?  Please contact us and come to one of our free seminars.

http://www.pbsmg.com/procedure/step.asp