The gastric bypass consists of reducing the capacity of the stomach so that the person is satisfied with the intake of less food. This surgery can be performed by laparoscopy which is a minimally invasive technique with which we manage to reduce the risks. The gastric bypass is oriented to morbidly obese patients.
What is laparoscopic gastric bypass?
Gastric bypass is an operation performed on the stomach to treat morbid obesity and we are also currently applying it to treat certain cases of type 2 diabetes. In essence it consists of reducing the capacity of the stomach, dividing the stomach into two parts, so that the person with less food is satisfied and then making a bridge over the intestine so that the food, on the one hand is absorbed less and also produces a series of hormonal alterations that on the one hand will have the beneficial effect on diabetes that we mentioned but, in people who are not diabetic it also has an effect on appetite and different aspects that will help them lose weight. Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive technique which reduces the aggression, risks and discomfort of surgery. It consists of passing tubes through the abdominal wall that are used to conduct the instruments and optics that are used to perform the operation without making a large incision.
What advantages does this type of surgery have over other procedures to treat obesity?
Laparoscopic gastric bypass is considered the gold standard in the United States, where it has been practiced for the longest time, the gold standard in operations for this type of problem, it is a minimally invasive technique applied by laparoscopy, which reduces the risks. It continues to be the best in long-term weight loss, which is where the other techniques tend to fail and over time more patients gain weight, this is the technique that best preserves the weight lost in the long term, and then, in the immediate post-operative period it is more comfortable, there is less discomfort, many risks are reduced (such as the risk of wound infections, risk of hernias a posteriori…), and in general the patient feels very comfortable in a few days.
What type of anesthesia will be used?
General anesthesia will be used and it is very important that the team in charge of taking care of the patient and putting him/her to sleep is used to performing this type of surgery. In this way the anesthetic risks become the risks of any simple operation.
How long does it take to be able to return to daily activities?
On the third day the patients are discharged from the hospital, after a week they can begin to do sedentary work and after 15 days they can begin to do strenuous work and progressively do a sporting activity to which each one is accustomed.