Definition

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is surgery to decrease the structure and size of the stomach and attach it to a small part of the intestine.

Reasons for Procedure

This surgery is done to treat severe obesity when other methods have not helped. It makes the size of the stomach smaller to cause weight loss by:

• Restricting food intake—creates a small pouch to serve as the stomach, so a person cannot eat as much
• Making the body unable to absorb as many calories from food—bypasses the first part of the small intestine, where many of the calories from food are usually absorbed

In addition to helping a person lose weight, this surgery may also:

• Improve physical function
• Lower high blood pressure
• Lower blood glucose levels
• Lower cholesterol levels
• Lower the risk of heart disease
• Reduce sleep apnea

Possible Complications

Problems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. The doctor will go over some problems that could happen, such as:

• Excess bleeding
• Problems from anesthesia, such as wheezing or sore throat
• Infection
• Blood clots
• Lasting nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea and abdominal cramping
• Breakdown of the staples, allowing leakage of stomach juices into the abdomen
• Gallstones
• Hernia
• Bowel obstruction
• Heart attack

Things that may raise the risk of problems are:

• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol
• Chronic diseases, such as diabetes

What to Expect

Description of Procedure

A large incision will be made in the abdomen. Surgical staples will be used to create a small pouch at the top of the stomach. The small intestine will be cut and attached to the new pouch. Food will now move from the new stomach pouch to the middle section of the small intestine. It will skip the lower stomach and the upper section of intestine. The upper section will be attached to the middle section of the small intestine. This will allow fluid that the lower stomach makes to move down the upper section of the small intestine and into the middle intestine. The incision will be closed with stitches or staples. A bandage will be placed over the area.

The small pouch can hold only 1 cup of soft, moist, and well-chewed food. A normal stomach can hold 4 to 6 cups.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Problems to Look Out For

Call the doctor if you are not getting better or you have:

• Signs of infection, such as fever and chills
• Redness, swelling, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision
• Pain that you cannot control with medicine
• Pain and swelling in your feet, calves, or legs
• Lasting nausea or vomiting
• Blood in your stool
• Pain, burning, urgency or frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• New or worsening symptoms

If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.