What is gastric bypass
Gastric bypass (or Roux-en-Y) is the most common of the surgeries undertaken to combat severe obesity. The procedure results in significant weight loss, thanks to a mixed action that combines a restrictive mechanical component with the "induction of malabsorption; in practice, the intervention modifies both the anatomy (stomach volume and its relationship with the intestine) and the gastrointestinal physiology (altering the digestion and absorption processes of food).
Gastric bypass involves the creation of a small pocket in the upper part of the stomach, obtained from the surgical resection of the organ (restrictive mechanical component).
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The operation forces the patient to a considerable dietary limitation, due to the small size of the gastric pouch (about 20-30 ml in volume), which cannot physically accommodate large quantities of food. The reduction in gastric capacity favors an early feeling of satiety even after eating a small amount of food. Ignoring this urge by continuing to eat would lead to vomiting and acid reflux on the one hand and problems such as flatulence and diarrhea on the other.
To all this is added the exclusion from the digestive processes of the distal stomach, duodenum and other segments of the digestive system involved in the absorption of nutrients; it follows a reduced capacity of absorption of nutrients.
Basically, the subject undergoing gastric bypass will eat less and, for the same amount of food ingested, will absorb less nutrients and calories.
The extent of the bypass involving the intestine, weighted by the surgeon before surgery, will determine the degree of malabsorption (mild or moderate). The food loop of the standard Roux gastric bypass is about 75 cm and on average produces a loss of weight equal to about 60-70% of excess body weight. The established weight goal is generally reached within two years, after which it is common to reach a long-term plateau: on average, patients maintain weight loss for approximately 10-14 years. part of the weight lost, but this outcome is strongly influenced by the degree of adherence to strict dietary and behavioral guidelines. In addition to weight loss, gastric bypass can help solve conditions often associated with obesity and improve the quality of life and ability to perform normal daily activities. Many surgeons prefer to perform this procedure, as it typically has fewer complications than other bariatric surgeries. However, like other surgical operations, potential side effects and serious risks are not excluded. Also for this reason, gastric bypass should only be considered after an evident failure of other methods, such as diet and physical exercise.
Who is it for?
Pathological obesity predisposes to a series of diseases that essentially affect every system of the organism and pose a serious risk to health. Gastric bypass surgery, in addition to inducing the loss of excess weight, can improve potentially dangerous conditions related to it. Therefore, gastric bypass is a "viable option if:
- The body mass index (BMI) is ≥ 40 (very severe obesity).
- The BMI is 35-40 and there are serious health problems associated with excessive weight, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension or obstructive sleep apnea.
- All non-surgical measures to combat obesity (diet, psychotherapy, exercise and drug treatment) have failed to produce clinically useful weight loss in the medium / long term.
- The patient has no medical or psychological obstacles to surgery or to the use of anesthesia and shows the firm will to commit to a long period of post-operative follow-up.
Ultimately, gastric bypass is NOT a suitable procedure for all severely obese patients. Contraindications to bariatric surgery are all those concomitant diseases which significantly reduce life expectancy and which cannot improve with weight reduction, including some cardiopulmonary diseases or terminal cancer. Even patients who do not intend to adopt permanent changes to the lifestyle and participating in post-operative follow-up plans are considered unsuitable for gastric bypass.
The procedure
Gastric bypass aims to decrease the amount of food that the individual can ingest and at the same time reduce the absorption of the few nutrients ingested. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so the patient is unconscious during the procedure.
Roux-en-Y is the most common method of gastric bypass. The first step of the surgery is to create a small gastric pouch, obtained by resection of the upper part of the stomach. The surgeon will use staples to divide the stomach into a small upper section (pocket) and a larger lower part; this is called stomach stapling.
The gastric pouch makes the stomach small and limits food intake, as the patient feels satiety early. The resulting gastric pouch can only contain 15-30ml of food (reducing the volume of food by more than 90%. "organ, which in normal conditions can reach and exceed two liters of content).
Subsequently, the surgeon undertakes a surgical technique called "Roux-en-Y": the gastric pouch, disconnected from the stomach and the first part of the duodenum, is reconnected to the "small intestine" at the height of the jejunum, by means of a "jejunal loop. a Roux-en-Y, the food passes through the stomach pouch and directly reaches the jejunum, excluding a digestive tract responsible for digestion and the absorption of nutrients (part of the stomach, duodenum and biliary tract). This induces a relative malabsorption of the food ingested, which aims to reduce the amount of calories absorbed.
Typically, stomach resection and bypass are performed during the same surgery, which takes approximately 2-4 hours to complete. Bypass surgery is considered irreversible, but in some cases the procedure can be partially reversed.
Gastric bypass can be performed with two techniques:
- Standard approach (open): involves a laparotomy with incision of the abdominal wall;
- Laparoscopic approach: doctors insert special surgical devices, particularly thin, through 4-6 small cuts made on the abdomen; among these, there is a small camera (laparascope) that allows you to view the inside of the abdomen and guide the various operations without resorting to traditional incisions Laparoscopic surgery can speed recovery by reducing risks, complications and hospital stay, however it is not suitable for all patients.
Gastric bypass allows for a weight reduction of approximately two thirds of excess body weight.
Risks
Like any major surgery, gastric bypass presents several potential health risks, both in the short and long term.
Risks associated with the surgical procedure may include:
- Adverse reactions to anesthesia;
- Hemorrhages;
- Infections;
- Blood clots (thrombosis and embolism);
- Breathing problems
- Death (rare).
Long-term complications can include:
- Abdominal pain;
- Bowel obstruction;
- Dumping syndrome, which causes diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
- Gallstones;
- Nutritional deficiencies (vitamin, mineral deficiency and electrolyte imbalance), with consequences such as calcium deficiency osteoporosis or iron and / or vitamin B12 and / or folic acid deficiency anemia;
- Perforation of the stomach, ulcers of the anastomosis (point of connection between the gastric pouch and the intestine) and intestinal hernias.
Dumping syndrome. After gastric bypass surgery, some patients may experience an "intolerance to" the intake of certain sweet foods, especially if they ingest highly sugary liquids and concentrated fats. Dumping syndrome is caused by impaired stomach function. which determines a rapid passage of the gastric contents into the small intestine. The presence of simple sugars concentrated in the jejunal loop presents a substantial osmotic load, which can cause discomfort and abdominal cramps. In addition, the resulting rapid release of insulin can cause hypoglycemia.
Symptoms of dumping syndrome include nausea, weakness, sweating, weakness, and occasionally diarrhea after eating. This unpleasant reaction is considered a characteristic side effect of gastric bypass.
Recovery after bypass
Generally, the patient needs to stay in the hospital for about 1-4 days, in order to be monitored in the most delicate period after surgery. During the first week it will be possible to drink only fluids, to allow the stomach and the apparatus digestive system to heal. The progression of the phases of adaptation to gastric bypass involves a specific diet for about 12 weeks, with the gradual re-introduction of solid foods. During this period, various restrictions or limits are imposed on how much and what to eat and drink. First, it is necessary to avoid foods that are high in sugar, such as chocolate, cakes, sweets and biscuits: the bypass affects the "digestion" of sugar and can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms, collectively known as syndrome of dumping (with nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea). Secondly, on medical advice, it is necessary to take a multivitamin supplement daily that contains a combination of different vitamins and minerals, in order to compensate for the defect in nutrient absorption after gastric bypass. The most common disorders are anemia and osteoporosis. caused by poor absorption of iron and calcium. Having regular medical check-ups during post-operative follow-up helps to monitor health conditions and can reduce the risk of these disorders causing serious complications. Most people are in able to resume normal activities within 3-5 weeks of surgery.
Gastric bypass surgery has an emotional and physiological impact on the individual. Many of those who have undergone gastric bypass suffer from depression in the months following the surgery. Adjusting to eating several small meals a day can be difficult for some people. In addition, severe dietary restrictions can cause great emotional tension and mood swings in the patient.
In the first three to six months after gastric bypass, some changes may also occur based on how the body reacts to rapid weight loss, including:
- Muscle aches;
- Feeling tired
- Dry skin;
- Hair thinning and loss.
Energy levels after surgery can be low, both due to restriction in food intake and negative changes in emotional state. Muscle weakness is also common in the months following surgery, due to a number of factors including protein restriction, subsequent loss of muscle mass, and decreased energy levels. Many of these disorders tend to resolve when the "Food intake gradually increases in the postoperative phase.
Gastric bypass has been shown to induce greater long-term weight loss than that achieved with dietary, medical, behavioral or combined approaches.
Benefits
The main advantage of gastric bypass lies in its ability to help patients lose a significant amount of their excess weight.
Each patient is unique, but a number of positive effects associated with weight loss are commonly recorded:
- Reduction of health risks associated with obesity (heart disease, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, etc.);
- Improved physical and mental condition: Many obesity-related health problems improve or even disappear after gastric bypass surgery.
After surgery, weight loss requires motivation and permanent changes in a person's behavior: it is important to adhere to strict dietary guidelines and to practice regular physical activity to maintain the results obtained with gastric bypass.
