The gastric Bypass in Turkey

The Gastric bypass has been now performed for more than 50 years and the laparoscopic approach has been refined since 1993. It is one of the most common operations and is very effective in treating obesity and obesity related diseases.

How does the gastric bypass work?

The gastric bypass work in several ways. Like many bariatric procedures, the newly created stomach pouch is smaller and able to hold less food, which means fewer calories are ingested. Additionally, the food does not come into contact with the first portion of the small bowel and this results in decreased absorption. Most importantly, the modification of the food course through the gastrointestinal tract has a profound effect to decrease hunger, increase fullness, and allow the body to reach and maintain a healthy weight.

How is Gastric bypass surgery performed?

The surgery is performed under general anesthesia so the patient will be asleep and pain-free.

There are two steps during gastric bypass surgery:

• The first step makes the stomach smaller. The surgeon uses staples to divide the stomach into a small upper section and a larger bottom section. The top section of the stomach called (the pouch) is where the food the patient eat will go. The pouch is about the size of a walnut. It holds only about 1 ounce (oz) or 28 grams (g) of food. Because of this the patient will eat less and lose weight.
• The second step is the bypass. The surgeon connects a part of the small intestine (the jejunum) to a small hole in the pouch. The food the patient eats will travel from the pouch into this new opening and into the small intestine below where it would normally go, thus bypassing part of the small intestine. As a result, the body will absorb fewer calories.

Gastric Bypass surgery is performed under general anesthesia and takes 2 to 4 hours. The surgery can be done in two ways. With open surgery, the surgeon makes a large surgical cut to open the belly. Another way to do this surgery is to use a tiny camera, called a laparoscope. This camera is placed in the belly. The surgery is called laparoscopy. The scope allows the surgeon to see inside the belly.

Advantages of laparoscopy over open surgery include:

• Shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery
• Less pain
• Smaller scars and a lower risk for getting a hernia or infection

What are the risk of Gastric Bypass Surgery?

People who have gastric bypass surgery are at risk for:

• Pouch stretching. The stomach gets bigger over time, stretching back to its original size.
• Breakdown of staple lines: the staples fall apart.
• Nutritional, vitamin, and mineral deficiencies: the body will be less able to get nutrients from food.
• Stomal stenosis: a narrowing forms at the connection of the stomach and small intestine causing nausea, vomiting, reflux, and then an inability to eat. This will need to be dilated.

Gastric Bypass vs. Gastric sleeve

If you‘ve struggled to reach and maintain a healthy weight, or if you have health conditions related to obesity, you may be considering bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery is very effective when completed as part of a comprehensive weight-loss program. It can not only help you lose a significant amount of weight, but it can also help to improve or completely resolve obesity-related conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Two of the most successful types of bariatric surgery are gastric bypass and gastric sleeve. While both can result in significant weight loss within 1-2 years following surgery, there are differences between the two.

Gastric sleeve is the removal of a portion of the stomach. Weight loss may take longer than with gastric bypass.

 In a gastric bypass, a small gastric pouch is created and the small bowel is re-routed. It is more invasive than the sleeve due to the rerouting of the small bowel. People may drop weight faster in the months following surgery.

Dumping syndrome is more commonly associated with gastric bypass, which can be a side effect of the surgery where you’re more sensitive to high-fat and high-sugar foods.