Sunday, May 8, 2016

How Gastric Bypass Surgery Helps In Weight Loss

By Lisa Green


Bariatric surgery is any surgical operation that is conducted with the aim of reducing body weight. The main types that are performed commonly in New York include gastric bypass surgery, gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy. Although a few differences exist among these surgeries, they are fundamentally the same in the manner in which they achieve their desired effect. In this article we explore the procedure involved in the bypass operation as well as the associated risks and benefits.

It is important that the client and the surgeon have a detailed discussion on the need for the operation first before a decision is made. Other options of losing weight should be offered and tried out with surgery coming in as a last resort. Lifestyle changes are among the most effective and are also affordable by a majority of the population.

The candidate undergoing gastric bypass should ideally have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40. If the BMI value is less than this then the benefits may not be that much. For persons that have weight related complications such as high blood pressure, diabetes and sleep apnea, the BMI cut-off value has been set at 35.

The preparation needed for this surgery is similar to what would be required for any major operation. You need to have a number of tests that will help establish whether or not you are fit enough. Some of the tests that will be performed include a full blood count and renal function tests. You may also be asked to stop taking some drugs that are likely to impact negatively on the procedure such as aspirin and blood thinners.

The surgeon can choose one of two techniques to do this operation. The first type is known as Roux-en-Y. In the technique, a small incision is first made on the abdominal wall so as to access the stomach. A portion of the stomach is stapled or compressed with a band to reduce its size. A Y-shaped intestinal section is then attached onto the stomach so that a part of the original route is bypassed (hence the name).

One of the reasons as to why weight loss occurs following the Roux-en-Y procedure is the small stomach size. Faster filling means that you will eat less than before. Consequently less food is available for conversion to fat for storage as most of it is used for the provision of energy. The other major contributor to weight loss is the reduced surface area that is necessary for absorption of nutrients.

The second alternative is what is termed extensive gastric bypass. This is a more radical approach that is mainly used in the event of biliary obstruction resulting from liver disease. It is for this reason that the procedure is sometimes called biliopancreatic diversion. The surgery itself involves the removal of the lower stomach portion and joining the upper portion to the lower part of the small intestines.

Even as you plan to have the bypass, there are a number of potential risks that you should be aware of. Reduced absorption of useful nutrients is the most commonly encountered. It is especially severe in the case of extensive gastric bypass. Dumping syndrome is a collection of symptoms associated with rapid movement of food through the gut once the procedure has been performed. They include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sweating and weakness among others.




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