Gastric Bypass Grows in Popularity
Gastric Bypass surgery has become a popular weight loss surgery meant for obese patients who are severely overweight and require such a surgery to alleviate other potential harmful health conditions. However, the procedure is associated with high risks and a long recovery process.
In 2004, there were over 140,000 gastric bypass surgeries performed in the U. S. The number of surgeries increased to 170,000 is 2005. With its growing popularity, the risks of surgery have also increased due to inexperienced surgeons and other surgical related complications.
What is a Gastric Bypass?
An obesity surgical procedure such as gastric bypass is performed only on severely overweight individuals who are more than twice their ideal weight. Such an overweight individual can result in many serious and potentially deadly health problems. These problems caused by obesity include: hypertension, diabetes, coronary disease, heart attack, hyperlipidemia, and a higher prevalence of certain types of cancer.
Gastric bypass surgery, also called bariatric surgery, shrinks the stomach and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine. As a result of the surgery, a person will feel full more quickly than with a stomach of normal size. This is because the surgery reduces the amount of food intake and, thus, the calories consumed. By bypassing part of the intestine, fewer calories are also absorbed by the body, resulting in weight loss.
The most common gastric bypass surgery is called a RouxenY gastric bypass. In a RouxenY gastric bypass, the stomach is made smaller by creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach using surgical staples or a plastic band. The smaller stomach is connected directly to the middle portion of the small intestine, bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine.
Gastric bypass surgery is a complicated procedure. The procedure may take four or more hours and it can require a three to five day hospital stay for post-op recovery.
What are the Problems Associated with a Gastric Bypass?
According to the American Gastroenterological Association, approximately 3 in 200 (1.5%) people die after surgery for weight loss.
With the rising popularity of weight loss surgery, some surgeons perform gastric bypass surgery with little experience because they see it as a lucrative market. Unfortunately, the risks of the procedure and the potential complications are often neglected during and after the surgery when the medical professional lacks the ability to properly treat and educate the patient. Often, other physicians fail to respond to patient complaints of symptoms that indicate complications such as suture line leaks, nutritional education, and other post-surgery recovery issues.
Other risks common to all surgeries for weight loss include an infection in the incision, a leak from the stomach into the abdominal cavity or where the intestine is connected, resulting in an infection called peritonitis. It is important to remember that gastric bypass is not a cosmetic surgery but a treatment option for people suffering from obesity.
Legal Help for Gastric Bypass Medical Malpractice Victims
If you, a family member or a friend have suffered a serious injury due to gastric bypass medical malpractice, contact a gastric bypass medical malpractice lawyer at the Finz firm now toll free at (855) TOP-FIRM to speak with an experienced gastric bypass medical malpractice lawyer or fill out the Free Gastric Bypass Malpractice Case Evaluation form.
