Late Complications Of Gastric Bypass Surgery

I love to be loved, am fluent in silence and…

Gastric Bypass surgery is one of the most common and effective methods of weight loss surgery. However, immediate but also late complications of gastric bypass are also possible. Gastric bypass surgery reduces parts of a person’s stomach and bypasses parts of small intestine. This changes the way in which your stomach and small intestine digest and absorb the food along with calories, and it results in the loss of weight. Therefore after the procedure, your stomach is smaller and the intake of the food is reduced.

There are two ways to do gastric bypass surgery according to Medline Plus. One of them is open surgery and the other is done with the use of a tiny camera called laparoscopy. In open surgery, your surgeon makes a surgical cut to open your belly and work on your stomach. While in the second your surgeon makes 4 to 6 small cuts in order to insert the scope and other instruments needed to perform the surgery.

People who are severely obese and have tried other methods of weight loss, such as diets and physical activity and still didn’t achieve results, may benefit from gastric bypass surgery. However, according to what The American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery certain short and long-term complications might occur after the surgery, for the latest we will talk more specifically on this article.

Source: Shutterstock

Short-term complications

As Obesity news writes, there are various complications for patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery such as blood clots, lung or breathing problems, infections, excessive bleeding. And some of these might need additional surgeries to correct the problem.

Source: Shutterstock

Long-term complications

There are long-term risks and complications associated with the weight-loss surgery that happen more rarely. Some of them include dumping syndrome (Nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, sweating dizziness, weakness), gallstones, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), malnutrition, leakage of surgical connection between the stomach and intestine, ulcers, hernias, stomach perforation, bowel obstruction.

Some of them see below:

Dumping syndrome

After the gastric bypass surgery, it might be constantly difficult to regulate the movement of food as it dumps too quickly in the intestine, without being digested. For this you have to be very careful with the choice of food you take, otherwise, your stomach might be bloated, and you can develop feelings of nausea, dizziness, weakness even faint. Also, most people with dumping syndrome develop signs and symptoms, such as abdominal cramps and severe diarrhea.

Malnutrition

According to Very Well Health, malnutrition is another complicated symptom which might develop months or years after the bypass surgery. Since gastric bypass procedure decreases the size of the stomach and limits the amount of nutrition a person takes, most of the patients will need supplement vitamins and minerals for the rest of their lives after the surgery.

Gallstones

According to Bariatric Innovations when the cholesterol reaches very high levels the bile (a bitter greenish-brown alkaline fluid that aids digestion and is secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder) is unable to keep it suspended and it begins to form lumps and stones known as gallstones. They can cause acute pain over the upper abdomen which can last for 30 minutes to several hours.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

Although this is an uncommon complication of gastric bypass surgery it typically shows 1 or 2 years after the surgery. These hypoglycemic episodes are characterized by low blood sugars that occur 2 to 3 hours after a meal. Patients presenting with hypoglycemia may have symptoms such as tremors, nervousness, weakness, nausea, altered mental status, cold sweats.

Leakage of surgical connection between the stomach and intestine

This is one of the most serious complications after gastric bypass surgery. Named as anastomosis, according to Health Encyclopedia it is possible that the new connection created in your stomach and intestine during the bypass surgery will not fully heal and might leak.

Ulcers

Another complication of gastric bypass surgery is developing an ulcer. Which according to Tijuana Bariatric Center is a sore happening in the lining of your stomach, it might cause nausea and vomiting to patients. Also, bacterial infections of the stomach can also cause or increase the risk of an ulcer developing.

Hernia

According to Dartmouth the risk of a wound hernia with the open-incision approach is 20 to 25 percent. Whereas it very rarely occurs with a laparoscopic method.

Final Words

It’s important to discuss gastric bypass surgery advantages and disadvantages with a physician before you take any final decision. The risks of obesity and serious complications should be weighted prior to the surgery. Long-term and healthy lifestyle choices should be combined in order for gastric bypass surgery to work best.

Disclaimer: The contents of this article: text, graphics, images, and other materials contained are strictly for informational purposes only. The Content is NOT intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. Please ALWAYS seek the advice of a qualified health provider with all the questions that you have related to, or about, a medical condition.