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Gastric Bypass Surgery: Risks and Complications

Risks of Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass surgeries can be extremely successful in helping patients suffering from obesity lose weight. But all surgery involves some risks. Your doctor can explain the risks and complications most associated with gastric bypass so that you can decide if undergoing surgery is the best decision for you.

The risks and complications often associated with gastric bypass may include:

Malnutrition
Stomal stenosis
"Dumping syndrome"
Peritonitis

Gastric Bypass and Malnutrition

Gastric bypass not only limits the kinds of foods you can, eat but also the quantity of food. Additionally, it limits the nutrients that your body is able to absorb. To avoid malnutrition from vitamin deficiency after gastric bypass, you will need to work with a nutritionist to ensure that you are getting the proper nutrients from your diet. This may include subsidizing your diet with vitamin supplements:

Iron
Calcium
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B12

Gastric Bypass and Stomal Stenosis

Stomal stenosis occurs when there is tightening and narrowing of the new opening between the stomach and intestine after a Roux-en-Y procedure. This tightening may cause vomiting after eating or drinking.

We can treat stomal stenosis easily, but we need to treat it immediately. If you are experiencing vomiting after undergoing gastric bypass, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Gastric Bypass and Dumping Syndrome

Some patients that have undergone gastric bypass experience "dumping syndrome." Dumping syndrome occurs when the solid parts of a meal get "dumped" directly from the stomach into the small intestine without being digested.

There are two types of dumping syndrome:

Early dumping (occurs 15-20 minutes after eating). Symptoms include:
- Bloating and abdominal cramps
- Nausea
- Heart palpitations, rapid heartbeat and sweating
- Dizziness or fainting
Late dumping (occurs one to three hours after eating). Symptoms include
- Hunger
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Sweating and heart palpitations
- Tremors and fainting

Dumping syndrome can usually be remedied by making changes to your diet. If you are experiencing dumping syndrome after undergoing gastric bypass, it is important that you seek the advice of your doctor and nutritionist.

Gastric Bypass and Peritonitis

One of the most serious complications of gastric bypass is a stomach leak that can cause peritonitis to develop. Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the smooth membrane that lines the cavity of the abdomen.

Signs of peritonitis due to stomach leak after gastric bypass may include:

Fever
Increasing abdominal pain
Back pain
Pelvic pressure
Hiccups
Unexplained tachycardia (rapid heart rate)
Restlessness

If you experience any of these symptoms after undergoing gastric bypass, it is important to contact your doctor immediately.