Gastric Bypass Surgery Dangers & Fatality
You have probably heard or read about gastric bypass surgery that is being used to treat severe obesity and the dramatic results experienced by some people. If you have seen before and after pictures of Al Roker or Carnie Wilson, you can appreciate the wave of popularity this procedure is enjoying. Due to certain dangers and risks, bypass surgery may not be the "magic pill" for each and every person who considers weight loss surgery. It is for this reason that doctors who perform these procedures select candidates who fit strict criteria that tend to eliminate extreme risk. Despite careful screening by most physicians, it is estimated that 1 in every 50 people who undergo gastric bypass die within one month of their surgery. The rate is even higher when the procedure is performed by inexperienced physicians.
- Weight Loss Surgery Procedures
Gastric bypass surgery entails removing part of the stomach and modifying the small intestine in order to reduce the amount of food one can eat before feeling full. The procedure can be done through a large incision in the abdominal wall, or by a smaller incision using laparoscopic instruments. One of the greatest dangers resulting from bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) is leaking gastric or intestinal fluid into the abdominal cavity and the ensuing infection, which can be fatal. Experienced bariatric surgeons take every precaution to catch the signs of infection early in the post-operative period.
- Losing Weight After Surgery
Many people make an uneventful convalescence from their gastric bypass and initially see the pounds melting away. If you are in good general health except for obesity, coping with fewer calories may not be insufferable, but there are other resulting nutritional deficiencies that can be incapacitating and even hazardous. "Dumping Syndrome" is a condition that occurs after bypass surgery when the stomach, due to its smaller size, empties too quickly and floods the small intestine, causing cramping, diarrhea, dizziness, weakness, and fainting. This condition can be minimized with stricter adherence to diet instructions, such as eating smaller servings and eating fewer sources of refined sugar.
- Long Term Effects Of Gastric Bypass
Weight loss surgery has a drastic effect on the absorption of vital nutrients, including protein, vitamins, and minerals. Because the part of the small intestine responsible for much of the digestion and absorption of vitamins is often bypassed, diseases associated with vitamin deficiency can occur. Vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness and susceptibility to infection. Calcium in low levels in the blood affects blood clotting, muscle contracting ability, and bone metabolism (osteoporosis). Vitamin E deficiency can cause muscle weakness and neurological damage. Other vitamins, such as vitamin B1, in low levels can even precipitate death.
- Is Gastric Bypass Surgery A Permanent Solution?
Competent doctors who diligently screen their candidates for gastric bypass surgery recognize that using surgery to correct a condition that is often caused by strong emotional and psychological components can be an invitation to failure. A common sequence of events that many gastric bypass recipients experience is that they initially find the weight coming off, but in a period of months or years later, the weight starts to go right back on. People put themselves at risk undergoing dangerous gastric bypass surgery that is only part of a program which must include adhering to a strict diet and careful monitoring. To minimize the dangers of weight loss surgery, place yourself in the surgeon with the most experience if you decide that gastric bypass surgery is the right approach to achieve your weight loss.
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