Gastric Bypass – What is it?

Gastric Bypass is a combination procedure that uses both restrictive and malabsorptive elements. First, the stomach is stapled to make a smaller pouch. Next, most of the stomach and part of the intestines are bypassed by attaching (in most cases, stapling) a part of the intestine to the small stomach pouch. As a result, a patient cannot eat as much and absorbs fewer nutrients and calories.

Gastric Bypass Advantages

• Rapid initial weight loss

• Minimally invasive approach is common

• Longer clinical experience in the U.S.

• Slightly higher total average weight loss reported than with purely restrictive procedures

Gastric Bypass Disadvantages

• Cutting and stapling of stomach and bowel are required

• More operative complications

• Portion of digestive tract is bypassed, reducing absorption of essential nutrients

• Medical complications due to nutritional deficiencies

• “Dumping syndrome” can occur

• Non-adjustable

• Extremely difficult to reverse

• Higher mortality rate

Gastric Bypass Risks
Mortality rate ranges from 0.5-2%. Total complications are reported 23% of the time, however major complications only 2.1%. The most common include complications include:

• Standard risks associated with major surgery

• Nausea and vomiting

• Separation of stapled areas (major revisional surgery)

• Leaks from staple lines (major revisional surgery)

• Nutritional deficiencies

Gastric Bypass Costs & Insurance
Generally speaking, the gastric bypass procedure will be covered by insurance, but check with your employer or your surgeon’s office for specific information about your policy. The cost of this type of weight loss surgery will vary (sometimes significantly) depending upon the site where the surgery occurs (in-patient or out-patient), the type of bypass procedure (laparoscopic or open) and how long you are required to stay in the hospital. The survey did not find any program that offered a cash price for open gastric bypass. For more information on costs and insurance regarding this weight loss surgery at Pacific Bariatric, please contact us.

Gastric Bypass Recovery Timeline
After completing this weight loss surgery, specifically the laparoscopic approach, the recovery timeline is as follows:

• Hospital stay is usually 48-72 hours

• Many patients return to normal activity within 2.5 weeks

• Full surgical recovery usually occurs within about 3 weeks

Gastric Bypass Results
Although during the first year after surgery, weight loss with the gastric bypass is greater than with the LAP-BAND® System, surgeons report that at 5 years many LAP-BAND® and gastric bypass patients achieve comparable weight loss.