Gastric Bypass Side Effects and Post-Surgical Problems

Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure that reduces the size of the stomach, and reconnect the intestines through other ways. In gastric bypass surgery, the stomach is split into the small upper part and a bigger lower part. The small intestines are rerouted to both the stomach parts. The upper part and lower part are in the shape of a pouch. Surgeons have devised many ways of rerouting the intestine. This is why there are various types of gastric bypass procedures. There are many types of gastric bypass surgery, however, they are collectively known as bariatric surgery. Gastric bypass procedure is used in the removal of excessive fat deposits in the body, especially in severely obese people, diabetes mellitus type 2 patients, obstructive sleep apnea due to fat deposits, and so on. Gastric bypass prolongs the life suffering of those who are morbidly obese, or who have fat deposits in crucial places. However, even though gastric bypass surgery is important, and prolongs the life of those who do it, it has some side effects.

What Is the Importance of Gastric Bypass Surgery?

  1. For the treatment of obesity: Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure used for the treatment of morbid obesity. Morbidly obese people are incapable of walking by themselves comfortably. They find it difficult walking, because of their excessive weight. In addition, they find it difficult to breathe, and they have various heart-related Gastric bypass surgery is prescribed to those diet change and lifestyle change has not helped.
  2. Cardiovascular diseases: There are conditions in which fat is deposited in some vessels, especially in the coronary arteries. Gastric bypass surgery helps in the removal of these fat deposits.
  3. High blood pressure: Atherosclerosis plays a huge role in the development of hypertension. In atherosclerosis, fat plaques accumulate in the vessels, thereby occluding it and reducing the flow and amount of blood passing through the vessels.
  4. Obstructive sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea surges the risk of having other diseases like hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Fat deposits around the throat and palate. This excessive fat layers can be removed through gastric bypass surgery.
  5. Gastroesophageal reflux disease: This is a condition in which food substances in the stomach move back into the esophagus due to a weakened gastroesophageal sphincter. Fat deposits are sometimes responsible for this. Gastric bypass surgery is one of the ways of treating this.

 

Side Effects Of Gastric Bypass Procedure And Other Post-Surgical Problems

Although gastric bypass procedure has a lot of benefits, it also has some side effects and complications. Gastric bypass surgery is generally a safe procedure, however, side effects and complications are dependent on some factors. These factors usually have been existing before the surgery. Some of these factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea and so on.

  1. Thromboembolism: Just like any other type of surgery, the injury usually causes the blood to coagulate. The clot formed often stick to the sides of vessels in combination with other fat particles to form the thrombus. The embolus can also travel from the vessels to other parts of the body. The traveling thrombus is called embolus. These particles can travel to the leg to block the vessels of the leg. This is also known as deep vein thromboembolism. It can also cause pulmonary embolism. Patients are often administered blood-thinning medications before the surgery to reduce the chances of this happening.
  2. Infection: There might be the occurrence of some hospital infections, associated with gastric bypass surgery. This kind of hospital infection is also referred to as nosocomial infection. These infections can affect the lungs, bladder and the abdominal organs. Antibiotics are often administered after the surgery to prevent the development of diseases or infections.
  3. Blood loss: There is chances blood loss might occur. This might be due to the rupture of important blood vessels in the abdomen. The blood loss might lead to hypotension and shock if not well managed. Blood transfusions should be performed to reduce the effect of the blood loss and to replace the blood lost. Blood thinners increase the risk of losing blood.
  4. Development of a hernia: Hernia is an anatomical abnormality in the abdomen. In a hernia, there is an abnormal opening in the abdomen. This hernia can be as a result of surgery and disorderly arrangement of the abdomen. As an illustration, an organ might push through an incision that didn’t heal well. Gastric bypass surgery increases the risk of hernia development.
  5. Obstruction of the abdominal organs: It’s not a rare occurrence for adhesions to occur after surgeries. Injuries and abrasions of the abdominal contents can lead to scarring. These adhesions can lead to two parts of the abdomen sticking together, thereby preventing the movement of abdominal contents. However, this often occurs a long time after the procedure had taken place.
  6. It affects the absorption of nutrients: Patients often feel filled up easily after the gastric bypass procedure. The amount of food consumed usually drastically reduces. This can be attributed to the reduction in the size of the stomach. Patients are advised to strictly the instructions of his physician on what type of food to consume. In addition, the patient would have to rely largely on the use of supplements, such as vitamins, magnesium, calcium and so on.

The amount of food ingested and absorbed reduces in large amounts after the surgical procedure, while the acid-secreting cells in the stomach surge. As an illustration, doctors would have to prescribe antacid medications to reduce the effect of the acid being secreted. Below are some of the food substances patients must consume to live a healthy life after the surgery;

  1. Protein: Protein food is important for growth, and also for the development of new cells. Foods rich in protein are beans, meat, fish and so on. Doctors often prescribe some protein supplements to boost recovery, and also to keep the patient healthy.
  2. Minerals, vitamins, and carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are the most common food, so patients would always have sufficient amounts. Patients can indulge in mineral and vitamin supplements to keep them healthy, and to compensate for the required level they might not be able to achieve due to the surgical procedure.

References

Kayaalp, C. (2017). Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Laparoscopic Endoscopic Surgical Science.

Post-Surgical Effects of Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass on Glucose Homeostasis, Intestinal Morphology and L-Cells in Obese Gottingen Minipigs. (2015). Journal of Obesity and Bariatrics, 1(1).

Schmidt, T., Garren, M., Campos, G. and Gould, J. (2011). Outcomes Of Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Vs. Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band Up To 5 Years Post-op. Journal of Surgical Research, 165(2), p.175.

Stubbs, R. (2014). What makes a gastric bypass a good gastric bypass? Opinion and hypothesis. World Journal of Surgical Procedures, 4(2), p.48.