Gastric Bypass is the most popular operation among the operations for the surgical treatment of obesity. It is a method that can be considered as absorption reducing and restricting intervention. The most common types of gastric bypass operations are Mini Gastric Bypass and Roux en Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB).
Surgical Procedure Applied in Gastric Bypass Operations
Gastric Bypass operation is a method which is based on reducing the amount of food that patient can take by shrinking the stomach and shortening the absorption path of the food in the small intestine.
Roux en Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB)
In this method, stomach volume is reduced up to about 15-30 cc and food intake is decreased. Since a large portion of the stomach, duodenum and starting part of the small intestine (jejunum) are bypassed; absorption of the consumed food (especially high-calory sugary food) is prevented.
Mini Gastric Bypass Operation
The weight loss mechanism of mini gastric bypass operation works as in RYGB operation but technically different. It is initiated by creating a small gastric tube at the entrance of the stomach and this part is completely spared from the rest of the stomach. However, the spared part of the stomach is not cut and discarded. The residue large portion of the stomach is inactively in its place and continues to procedure the necessary secretions. This newly-formed small gastric tube is connected to the stomach close to the middle part of the small intestine by leaping a certain distance from the starting point of the small intestine, in order to enable to food to pass from the stomach into the intestines. The stomach and intestines are anastomosed by using special tools and a gap is created between them for the food transfer.
Thanks to the new small stomach, which is formed by mini-gastric bypass operation, the amount of food intake is reduced. In addition, thanks to the connection between the new stomach and small intestine, the eaten food passes into the small intestine from a further part without passing through large stomach and duodenum, thereby preventing the absorption of food. The biggest advantage of Mini Gastric Bypass surgery compared to the RNYG method is that it reduces the operation duration, much better recovery is provided in concomitant disease with more successful weight loss and it is technically easier to apply.
What Should Patient Consider After Gastric Bypass Operations?
Patients should certainly continue their short term and long term postoperative follow-up. The aim of the short term follow-up is to ensure the self-repair of the body and smooth recovery after an undergone surgical operation. Long term follow-up is to ensure that patients change their life habits and give the excess weight in a healthy and steady way and finally weight problem is radically eliminated.
