Gastric Bypass Surgery: Is it Safe?

The United States -- and, increasingly, many other developed nations -- is in the throes of a serious obesity epidemic. More people are overweight and obese than at any other time in history, and obesity-related health care problems have begun exacting a significant toll.

As the obesity rate has skyrocketed, some have begun taking extreme measures to regain a svelte shape. One of the most drastic methods of fighting obesity is gastric bypass surgery. Typically reserved only for the severely overweight, this procedure drastically reduces the capacity of the stomach.

As such, the amount of food that can be eaten at any one time is significantly limited. Some patients also develop sensitivity to certain types of food, resulting in severe gastric distress if consumed. Taken together, these two factors lead to rapid weight loss in the months following the surgery.

Clearly, gastric bypass surgery is an effective means of losing weight. However, the procedure has been at the center of an intense debate, prompting many critics to call its safety into question.

The controversy surrounding gastric bypass surgery has fostered a great deal of research interest in recent years. This week, we?ll review some of the most significant breakthroughs achieved by research teams around the world.

Larger Hospitals Mean Fewer Complications for Gastric Bypass Surgery Patients

One of the most controversial aspects of gastric bypass surgery has been the relatively high rate of post-surgery complications associated with the procedure. Compared to many other types of surgeries, the risk of serious illness, injury, and, in rare cases, even death after gastric bypass surgery is fairly high, ranging from 7% to 15%, depending on the type of procedure that has been performed.

Several prominent research teams have sought to identify factors that could contribute to the risk of complications following gastric bypass surgery. One recent study, conducted by independent medical assessment firm HealthGrades, focused on identifying the types of medical facilities that posed the greatest risk of post-surgical complications for patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery.

According to the team?s findings, the lowest risk of complications was associated with high-volume hospitals that were not only large in capacity, but also served the greatest number of patients. They also found that hospitals with more experience in performing gastric bypass surgeries tended to pose the lowest risk of complications for patients undergoing the procedure.

New Technique Discovered to be Effective in Treating a Common Complication of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Although there are many potential complications that have been associated with gastric bypass surgery, one of the most common problems is the post-surgery development of gastrojejunal anastomotic strictures. This common complication occurs when the opening between the newly-formed gastric pouch and the small intestines narrows.

A team of scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri determined that gastrojejunal anastomotic strictures can be safely and effectively treated using a method known as endoscopic balloon dilation. In this method, physicians use a balloon-like device to gently widen the narrowed gastric bypass.

Among patients who experienced the complication, 79% were successfully treated with one round of endoscopic balloon dilation. A small number more required two treatments. Furthermore, among patients who underwent the intervention, weight loss in the year after surgery was not slowed. According to the research team, this could represent a major breakthrough in the safety of gastric bypass surgery.

Gastric Bypass Surgery Reduces Severity of Adult-Onset Diabetes

The prevalence of Type II diabetes has skyrocketed over the last several decades, a trend which many researchers link to the obesity epidemic that is overtaking the United States and many other developed nations.

Although gastric bypass surgery?s primary purpose is to help severely overweight patients shed pounds, researchers have also found that the procedure can have other positive health impacts, as well. A recent study conducted by scientists at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle found that patients with diabetes were able to reduce or even stop their prescription drug regimen after undergoing surgery and losing excess weight.

Some physicians and scientists have begun to explore the possibility of suggesting gastric bypass surgery for non-morbidly obese patients with diabetes. While further study is necessary to determine the efficacy of this approach, preliminary findings indicate that the procedure can drastically reduce the severity of many diabetes-related symptoms and health problems.

If you?re considering gastric bypass surgery, be sure to consult with a licensed medical professional who can help you assess all of your options. Check back each week for the breaking research news that can help you achieve success in your weight loss journey!