One of the popular bariatric surgeries, a mini gastric bypass is claimed to be safe and effective for highly obese people. Here is a brief overview about this surgical procedure.
Mini gastric bypass surgery is a relatively new entrant, and was developed by Dr. Robert Rutledge in 1997. This procedure is somewhat similar to the loop gastric bypass, that was discarded by doctors during the 1970s, due to the complications caused by that procedure. However, the newer version is a modified surgical procedure that is said to be comparatively safer than its earlier version.
Procedure
In case of gastric bypass surgeries, the size of the stomach is reduced considerably, thereby cutting down the food intake of the person. Apart from that, absorption of nutrients is also curtailed by bypassing the initial parts of the small intestine. A mini gastric bypass surgery is also based on this theory. Unlike the traditional gastric bypass surgery that involves severance of the small intestine, this new procedure creates a long pouch in the stomach, through stapling. This results in separation of a major part of the stomach from the esophagus. The long, slender pouch, with the esophagus on one end, acts as the stomach. The other end of the pouch is connected to a particular site in the small intestine. This site is at a distance of around six feet from the duodenum.
A mini gastric bypass surgery results in bypassing a large portion of the stomach as well as the small intestine. As the tube-like stomach holds less food, the person will consume less, but he will feel full for a longer time. This reduces the food intake. As a major part of the small intestine is bypassed, the rate of absorption of nutrients too drops sharply. Thus the person experiences weight loss, as a result of this surgery. Even though this procedure has various benefits, it is not fully devoid of risks and complications.
Risks and Complications
As there is no severance of the small intestine, a mini gastric bypass surgery takes less time, and requires a shorter hospital stay. Quick recovery is another positive aspect of this procedure. However, it may cause complications, like bleeding, blood clots in the lungs, infections, obstructions in the bowel, pneumonia, leakage, etc. In rare cases, even death is reported. Dumping syndrome, which is a condition characterized by nausea and dizziness, may also be caused, due to the fast movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine. Eventually, the person may also develop nutritional deficiencies and related symptoms. After undergoing this surgery, the patient has to stick to a gastric bypass diet, so as to ensure best results.
In short, a mini gastric bypass surgery is a popular bariatric weight loss surgery. The cost of this procedure may vary from one region to another, and as per the experience and qualification of the surgeon. Even the extent of the surgery counts in fixing the cost. This procedure is found to be beneficial for many people, but resort to a weight loss surgery, only if all other methods (like diet control and exercise) fail to provide results.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
