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Gastric bypass

• Overview
• Recovery
• Risks

Alternative Names:

Bariatric surgery - gastric bypass; Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Risks:

The risks of gastric bypass surgery include:

• Bleeding
• Infections
• Follow-up surgeries to correct complications, or to remove excess skin
• Gallstones due to significant weight loss in a short amount of time
• Gastritis (inflammation of the lining of the stomach)
• Vomiting from eating more than the stomach pouch can hold
• Iron or vitamin B12 deficiencies (if they occur) can lead to anemia
• Calcium deficiency (if it occurs) can contribute to the development of early osteoporosis or other bone disorders

Follow up surgeries may be less likely if gastric bypass is performed with a laparoscope.

Another common complication from gastric bypass is "dumping syndrome." The symptoms often include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Bloated feeling
• Dizziness
• Sweating

You can lessen these symptoms by following your dietitian's guidelines very carefully, especially during the first two months after surgery.

• Review Date: 5/15/2006
• Reviewed By: Eugene A. Trowers, Jr., MD, MPH, FACP, Department of Gastroenterology, Florida State University College of Medicine, Assistant Dean, Tallahassee Regional Campus, Tallahassee, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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