The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Robotic Gastric Bypass Houston CypressTexas

The gastric bypass operation was first performed for weight-loss in the 1960’s. Since then, it has become the most popular and successful weight-loss or bariatric operation in the world today. It uses a combination of restriction by creating a small pouch from the upper stomach and malabsorption by bypassing a portion of the small intestines. But that is not the only way it works. There is a significant hormonal release of a hormone called GLP-1 in response to undigested food being delivered further down the intestines. Because of this hormone, the hunger is taken away and type II diabetes improves.

The new, small stomach is now only 1-2 ounces in size. The remainder of the stomach is left in place. There is nothing taken out during the gastric bypass, so it can be reversed. However, the remaining stomach drains through the bypasses portion of the intestines, picking up the digestive juices, and meets back up with the food after it has gone through the “alimentary” limb of the bypass. This is where digestion begins. Because the pouch is so small, less food is needed before the person feels full; in addition, because the intestines is bypassed and digestion starts further down the intestines, there is less time to absorb all the calories. This restriction and malabsorption, in conjunction with the hormonal mechanism, work together to have a profound effect on weight loss and improve type II diabetes.

Because of the bypasses intestines, eating sweets after the gastric bypass can cause dumping syndrome. This leads to uncomfortable symptoms such as nausea, sweating, fullness, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and a fast heart rate. This is because the sugar passes quickly into the intestines. This increase what is called osmotic pressure in the intestines and causes water from the blood vessels to leak into the intestines to dilute the sugar. This will cause a drop in blood pressure and fill the bowel with water, resulting in dizziness and cramps. The symptoms are usually limited to a few minutes to a couple of hours, and medical attention is rarely needed.

The amount of weight loss after gastric bypass surgery is different for every person. It depends on your body and how well you follow the diet. However, most evidence suggests that patients usually lose 60-80% of their excessive weight within 18 months after their gastric bypass Cypress Texas. At five years, this weight is sustained with fluctuations are 20% depending on compliance with diet and exercise change (life-style changes after bariatric surgery).