Gastric Bypass Surgery

The detriments of modern living, most notably an increasing dependence on fast food and other unhealthy food options to keep up with our harassed lifestyles, have spawned an epidemic of obesity that claims more victims every year. Setting aside the association society has between slimness and attractiveness, a person who is grossly overweight is at much higher risk for a whole host of health problems, from diabetes to heart disease. For some, the obesity is so pronounced that simple adherence to a diet and an exercise regimen is simply insufficient. Consequently, surgeons have advised these patients about the advantages of undergoing bariatric surgery, of which the gastric bypass constitutes the large majority of all such procedures. Though there are obvious cosmetic benefits, a gastric bypass is more often resorted to for therapeutic reasons.

A gastric bypass essentially consists of the creation of a small, thumb-sized pouch from the upper stomach, and its isolation from the rest of the stomach, which shall no longer be utilized for any digestive function. The two portions are either sectioned off from each other by using staples, or the lower stomach is completely detached from the upper pouch, and then sutured and stapled shut. The latter option is typically preferred because it negates the possibility of the stomach healing around the separation. The gastro-intestinal tract is then restructured to allow the drainage of both stomach divisions so that toxins do not accumulate and the natural digestive function is not significantly impaired.

There are two variants of the gastric bypass, which involve a trade-off between weight loss effectiveness and absorption of important nutrients. The more common method preserves conventional nutrient absorption, but also facilitates normal digestion of fats and starches, so the weight loss, while significant, is not optimized by the procedure. The alternative places a premium on the shedding of excess pounds, resulting in greater weight loss results, but makes the person’s digestive system less capable of absorbing vitamins and minerals as well. Neither one is necessarily far superior to the other, so it depends on the patient’s preference as well as the demands of his condition.

The ultimate result of the gastric bypass is to reduce the functional stomach by over 90 percent, retaining only a portion that is not susceptible to stretching, and which only holds about 15 ml of food at any given time. Thus, a patient feels full at once even after having eaten only small portions of food. If subsequent food is not eaten slowly and deliberately, the patient is likely to experience much discomfort or even a vomiting sensation. Moreover, hormones produced by the digestive system create feelings of satisfaction that eventually compel the patient to eat less overall.

It must be emphasized, however, that the gastric bypass does not guarantee permanent weight loss, as the patient must also shift to healthier eating methods and consume meals in a manner that complements the surgery. In particular, patients are advised not to snack or eat between meals, and eat only two to three main meals a day, which should consist of foods rich in nutrients and low in fat, carbohydrates and calories. Gradually, as the patient adapts to this new dietary regimen, he is also expected to enter a sufficient exercise program to improve the body’s metabolism and fat-burning mechanisms.

A gastric bypass takes about four hours to complete, and patients normally remain in the hospital for three to five days after the procedure, during which period they are monitored and gradually shifted into a liquid diet from being unable to eat at all after the surgery. As a major surgery that drastically alters one’s digestive system, gastric bypass carries many risks and possible side effects, and should be considered only as a last resort against obesity.