The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
What is this surgery?
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is a procedure that reduces the size of the stomach, through laparoscopy or other methods, and then attaches the smaller stomach pouch to the Roux which is a part of the small intestine. This procedure causes consumed food to bypass the section of the stomach that was detached as well as a section of the small intestine.
How does this surgery work?
This procedure allows patients to feel fuller with smaller amounts of food. Their calorie or fat intake is also reduced due to the lack of surface area dedicated to food absorption from the detached sections of the stomach.
Who should do this surgery?
- Patients with a BMI over 40
- Patients with a BMI over 35, and have 2 comorbidities
- Patients without a pre-existing chronic illness
What are the benefits of this surgery?
- Most patients will experience substantial weight loss consistently over time without a need to adhere to a particular diet or exercise routine.
- This operation doesn’t require the implantation of a foreign body in the patient’s stomach.
- Because of the adjustments made to the gastrointestinal tract, the patient will reap the benefits of reducing their intake of calories from food and also feel their hunger satiated faster with lesser amounts of food.
- Few follow-ups are required.
- Patients will experience up to 30% excess weight loss over a period of three months and up to 60% weight loss over two years.