Health Complications and
Risks of Weight Loss Surgery
Health Dangers
Gastric stomach surgery is a serious operation which carries a risk of
premature death in about 1 percent of cases. Patient condition,
plus the expertise of the bariatric-surgeon and anesthesiologist, along
with the quality of operating room services are additional factors to
consider when evaluating the risk of gastric obesity surgery. As far as
post-operative health risks are concerned, these can be minimized if patients
carefully follow the dietary and exercise guidelines laid down by their
weight loss surgeon and dietitian.
Health Complications of Restrictive
Surgery
Post-operative health dangers of restriction procedures like gastric-banding
and stomach stapling include:
- Risk of Vomiting
Commonly caused if the patient's small stomach pouch is stretched by
food particles that have not been chewed well.
- Risk of Hernia
10-20 percent of obese patients require additional corrective surgery
to fix problems like abdominal hernias typically caused by vomiting
or straining after surgery before the incision heals. Laparoscopic surgical
techniques tend to reduce the risk of hernia.
- Risk of Blood Clots
These tend to occur in the legs after surgery, to about 1 percent of
patients
- Risk of Infections
There is typically a 5 percent risk of infection in the scarring/incision
area.
- Risk of Breakage of the Gastric Staple
Line
This only occurs in bariatric operations that use staples to reduce
stomach size, like vertical banded gastroplasty.
- Risk of Band Slippage and Saline
Leakage
This can occur after lap band or other forms of adjustable gastric banding.
- Risk of Bowel Obstruction
This rare complication can occur due to adhesions caused by scar tissue.
- Other health complications include
stomal stenosis and marginal ulcers.
Health Risks of Malabsorptive Surgery
Post-operative health dangers of malabsorption procedures like roux-en-y
or biliopancreatic stomach-bypass include:
- Risk of Dumping Syndrome
Dumping, also called rapid gastric emptying, can occur if food in the
stomach pouch passes too rapidly into the small intestine due to overeating,
especially of sugary foods. Dumping is not a real health danger, but
symptoms (nausea, faintness, sweating and diarrhea) can be upsetting.
- Risk of Nutritional Deficiency
Since gastric bypass surgery involves bypassing the duodenum and part/all
of the jejunum, causing insufficient absorption of vitamins and minerals,
patients can develop deficiencies in iron, calcium plus vitamin D and
B12 deficiency, to name but four. This can be easily corrected by a
continuous program of nutrient supplemention.
- Risk of Gallstones
About one-third of obese patients who have gastric bypass surgery develop
gallstones.
- Health Risks Resulting From Corrective
Bariatric Operations
About 15-20 percent of obese patients who undergo stomach bypass surgery
require follow-up gastrointestinal operations to correct complications
(hernias). These follow-up operations tend to carry higher risk of complication
and (rarely) death.
Note: Weight loss surgery, whether bypass
or stomach banding, to reduce severe clinical obesity is a serious undertaking
with serious health risks requiring detailed consultation with your doctor
and bariatric physician.
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Information and Weight Loss Diets
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