What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Gastric bypass surgery has become an increasingly popular procedure for obese people to lose vast amounts of weight, when their prior attempts at diet and exercise have failed. The number of gastric bypass surgeries performed soared to over 140,000 in 2004, and that number is expected to rise once again in 2005. Many high profile celebrities have undergone the procedure, and the expansive media coverage of them has increased the profile and attractiveness of the surgery to the rest of the country. The soar in popularity of the surgery has created a huge market for doctors and hospitals to take advantage of, however not all of the doctors getting involved are properly trained and experienced enough to safely conduct the procedures. The long-term effects are not well known as the surgery has been gaining popularity recently, however there are many possible negative side effects of gastric bypass surgery. The probability of experiencing these negative side effects increases dramatically when the doctor does not have enough experience performing the procedure. Since there is such a tremendous demand for gastric bypass surgeries, many doctors are rushing into the field with insufficient training and experience. Some reports have indicated that the rate of complications after gastric bypass surgery drop after a doctor has performed 100 of these operations. Unlike other forms of surgery, there is no mandatory training required and no certification to perform gastric bypass surgery. Many training courses or seminars that have arisen for gastric bypass surgery only last three to four days.

How does Gastric Bypass Surgery Work?

The most prevalent form of the surgery is known as "Roux-en-Y gastric bypass." This form of gastric bypass surgery shrinks the size of the stomach to about the size of a golfball and causes food to bypass the majority of the stomach and a section of the small intestine called the duodenum. Gastric Bypass procedures may often times involve the use of a laparoscope in order to reduce the recovery period. The laparoscope is a small surgical instrument with a camera attached to it that is inserted into small incisions in the abdomen, so that the surgeon can perform the operation. The procedure is less intrusive than the normal open gastric bypass. Patients who undergo the surgery will eat smaller amounts of food and they will feel "full" more quickly due to the reduced size of the stomach. In bypassing part of the small intestine, fewer calories are absorbed as the food passes through, which also aids in weight loss.

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Risks and Complications of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass is a serious procedure that is difficult to perform. It lasts approximately 4 hours and involves a 3 to 5 day hospital stay after the procedure is finished. There are many risks associated with gastric bypass surgery. Like many surgical procedures, there is a risk of infection. Due to the high weight of the patients, the excess stress on the lungs and chest may leave patients more likely to develop pneumonia after the surgery. Additionally there is a risk of peritonitis, which is an infection that develops from a leak from the stomach or from where the intestine is connected into the abdominal cavity. More than one third of patients may develop gallstones as a result of the rapid weight loss. Many surgical patients may develop nutritional problems due to the reduced absorption that takes place from the bypassing of part of the small intestine. The bypass allows for fewer minerals and vitamins to be absorbed by the small intestine, which could result in anemia, metabolic bone disease, or osteoporosis. Some reports show that as much as 30% of patients develop nutritional deficiencies. Patients must adhere to strict diets and must be monitored closely by their doctors in order to ensure that they are consuming and absorbing enough vitamins and minerals.

Questions and Consultations

If you or a family member has undergone gastric bypass surgery and noticed adverse side effects, you should contact a physician immediately. If you would like to discuss your rights, are interested in more information on gastric bypass surgery litigation, or if you have information about the cases that you would like to share with us, please fill out the free case evaluation form and a member of Seeger Weiss LLP's experienced staff will call you to discuss your potential rights concerning gastric bypass surgery. Attorney consultations incur no obligation on your part and all initial consultations are free of charge and do not create an attorney-client relationship.

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