ROUX-EN-Y

(Gastric Bypass, Duodenal Switch, Edward Mason's procedures, Gastric Partition, etc.)

The Roux-en-Y or Gastric Bypass surgery differs from the Lapband surgery in many ways. It is important to understand these differences before having any surgical procedure to help battle obesity.

Here is some information about these procedures:

Dr. Roux, a French doctor developed this Bypass surgical technique for treating other diseases but obesity (1875), thus this procedures are also known as Roux... The "Y" was added to the name because of the "Y" formation of ones jejunum limbs after the surgery, thus becoming Roux-en-Y or Mason's procedures when talking of obesity because Mason was the first developing and evaluating a variety of Bypasses for treating morbid obesity.

This operation is considered to be a malabsorptive procedure.

This surgery requires usually a week stay in the hospital. Recovery time out of the hospital is about 4-6 weeks.

1) Malabsorption - this occurs due to bypassing the duodenum and the jejunum and not allowing the bile, duodenal fluids and pancreatic juices to act over the food in order to be adecually absorved then is partially eliminated. Lack of ferrous absortion and also of calcium and other vitamins explains the long-term undesirable side effects that are seen as deficiencies.

2) Infection - there is a high risk of possible infection. This is due to the cutting and reconnecting of small intestines where there could be a leak.

The intestines are rerouted to the upper part of the stomach (which is one point of possible infection), and the stomach is attached at a lower part of the intestinal tract. Creating a "Y" shape within the intestines.

3) Diarrhea - In several cases there is a problem with diarrhea due to the fact that the stomach no longer does its job in breaking down the food. This becomes the job of the intestines but pancreatic and duodenal juces can´t help also because they are absent at the right place of absorption.

There are several vitamins that are to be taken after this operation, and the intestines struggle in absorbing the nutrients, thus causing chronic diarrhea.

4) Dumping Syndrome - This happens while eating sugar or eating too fast or too much and the food passes fast trough the gastric stoma and if you dont vomit, you will have cold sweats, drop in blood pressure and abdominal pain this may take hours to pass.

You must chew your food extremely well.

5) Internal Bleeding or Leakage - This happens at the points of staples (usually 6 different places) and reconnected intestines.

6) Alcohol - Because your stomach is no longer being used, alcohol is not advised, because it puts such a huge strain on the liver. As a matter of fact, most doctors ask for a commitment from the patient, not to drink (even socially) prior to surgery.

7) Reversing the Procedure - about 30% of the patients who have the Roux-en-y try to have it reversed due to the severity of side effects. Most of them cannot be reversed.

8) Long Term Effects - 50% of the patients gain their weight back after 5 years.

9) Death Rate - Their doctors claim 1% of patients that have this procedure done never leave the hospital. You are kept in ICU for 3-5 days after surgery. We found the rate to be closer to 5%.

LASGB (Lapband), Gastric Band

This is a surgical procedure with far less complications than the Roux-en-Y surgery. The Adjustable Gastric Band is considered a "Restrictive" type of surgery. The Lapband is laparoscopically placed around the upper stomach still allowing food to pass thru the stomach. The Band has a thin tube or hose that connects the Band to a port or valve. This band can be easily adjusted by a doctor as the patient looses weight. This way you can be monitored, and not loose too fast or too slow. We feel that this is a strong reason to consider the Adjustable Gastric Band before having surgery.

1) Restrictive - This does allow you to eat most foods, but in very small quantities. You have a feeling of satiety after eating just a few ounces. As in both surgeries, you need to make sure you eat plenty of protein. If you eat protein first, veggies second, and bread third. You will be most successful when choosing to eat this way.

2) Side Effects - There are few side effects. If you eat to fast then you will throw up. You must chew your food very well. You wont desire sweets the same, due to feeling full.

3) Very low chance of infection - There is no cutting of intestines, your body digests food the way it was intended. You just aren't hungry any more.

4) Hospital - This procedure is considered DAY SURGERY you may spend 1 night. The recovery period is a few days (3 or 4). Then you can return to work.

5) Malabsorption - there aren't any malabsorbtion issues. No dumping syndrome, No protein or vitamin deficiencies, No chronic diarrhea, No internal bleeding or leaking.

6) Death Rate - NO ONE HAS EVER DIED FROM THIS SURGERY.