Gastric Bypass

Weight loss surgery or obesity surgery is growing in popularity in response to the growth in obesity levels in the UK. The most common operation is a gastric band which involves the placing of a band around the top of the stomach limiting the amount of food that can be consumed. A gastric bypass is a more complicated option.

It involves creating a smaller stomach pouch and bypassing part of your small intestine to make your digestive system shorter which means you can only east small meals and your body will absorb less food.

You will need to follow a strict diet and make serious lifestyle changes to get the best results from the procedure.

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The gastric bypass is a surgical operation that results in enhanced satiety after a small meal. There is a marked reduction in the size of the stomach to a small stomach pouch. None of the stomach is actually removed. The food then passes through the intestine, but the lower part of the intestine is in contact with food much earlier than usual, because as the initial half meter of the intestine has been bypassed.

A side effect of the gastric bypass operation is what is called 'dumping', which gives you a light-headed feeling, nausea and occasionally diarrhoea. This happens in response to overeating very sweet foods such as chocolate.

The gastric bypass operation is generally suitable for all patients and achieves excellent results. It is starting to become a surgical 'treatment of choice'.

Who is it suitable for?

• Those who need help with portion control, due to the fact that the small pouch stops you from over-eating. Excessive eating will lead to central abdominal pain and vomiting
• It is ideal for people with a 'sweet tooth' who like cakes, sweets, chocolates, etc due to the presence of dumping syndrome
• It also benefits those who have previously enjoyed a higher fat diet as their ability to digest fat will be impaired, and excessive fat intake will produce loose, offensive stools

What are the advantages?

• Up to 96% of patients can see a cure or improvement in their Diabetes
• Up to 90% of patients can see a cure or improvement in their Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Up to 80% of patients can see a cure or improvement in their Sleep Apnoea
• Patients can experience markedly reduced pain due to any Osteoarthritis
• Patients often see an improvement in their Gastric Reflux symptoms
• Some patients see an improvement in their fertility
• Patients often experience significant weight loss, eg: 65-70% of the amount they are overweight. They can maintain an average of 65-70% weight loss at 5 years after surgery
• Patients can experience rapid weight loss, often achieving most of the weight loss within the first year
• The small gastric pouch forces patients to change what and how they eat
• Dumping syndrome helps patients 'control' eating foods high in sugar or fat

What are the drawbacks?

• Due to the fact that the stomach is divided and the small intestines are diverted, leakages can sometimes occur, usually in the first 1-2 days after surgery
• Scar tissue can occasionally occur later around the area where the intestine is joined to the stomach, possibly leading to obstruction and the need for urgent surgery
• Ulcers can rarely occur at the stomach/intestine junction
• Some patients experience worse wind (flatulence) than before surgery, although some medicines can help with this
• Weight can be regained if dietary advice and exercise regimes are not followed
• Patients can experience more regular bowel movements
• There is a need for life-long nutritional supplements due to the risk of nutritional deficiencies because of reduced absorption of some vitamins and minerals
• You may experience dumping syndrome if you eat something too high in sugar or fat
• Reversal surgery is possible but can be tricky and few surgeons can perform it at present

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