People who qualify for either procedure have a body mass index (BMI) of over 40, or have a BMI of 35 and have one or more severe co-morbid conditions: high blood pressure, diabetes, spinal or joint problems, venous thromboembolic disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and other related issues.
Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass is the blanket term used for the permanent surgical re-arrangement of the stomach and small intestine. Basically, the stomach is divided into two areas: an upper (small) pouch, about 10% of the size of the entire stomach, and the remaining portion of the stomach. The small intestine is then reattached. The purpose of this procedure is to reduce the amount of food required before the patient feels full, which limits the number of calories consumed each day. Weight is lost fairly quickly, and most patients will lose an average of 65 to 80% of excess weight in the first three and a half years following surgery.
Risks and complications of gastric bypass surgery include (but are not limited to):
- adverse reaction to anaesthesia which causes death;
- complications of abdominal surgery such as bowel obstruction, venous thromboembolism, infection, hemorrhage and hernia;
- complications of gastric bypass such as dumping syndrome, anastomotic ulcer, anastomatic stricture, and anastomatic leakage; and
- nutritional deficiencies.