Gastric Bypass Surgery - During the Procedure

During the Procedure

Gastric bypass surgery requires a stay in the hospital. The procedure will be performed while you’re asleep under general anesthesia. Your physician will discuss this with you in advance. Generally, gastric bypass surgery follows this process:

1. You’ll be asked to remove clothing and change into a gown.
2. An intravenous (IV) line will be started in your arm or hand. 
3. You’ll be on your back on the operating table.
4. A urinary catheter may be inserted into your bladder.
5. The anesthesiologist will continuously monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and blood oxygen level during the surgery.
6. The skin over the surgical site will be cleansed with an antiseptic solution in the rare event you make require an open incision.
7. For an open procedure, the physician will make a single large incision in the abdominal area. For a laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon will make a series of small incisions in the abdomen. Then carbon dioxide gas will be introduced into the abdomen to inflate the abdominal cavity so that the appendix and other structures can easily be visualized with the laparoscope.
8. For an open procedure, the abdominal muscles will be separated and the surgeon will open the abdominal cavity. For a laparoscopic procedure, the physician will insert the laparoscope and other small instruments.
9. For a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the physician will staple the stomach across the top to create a new small pouch for a stomach. The rest of the stomach will be separated from the new pouch and closed off by the staples; however, the remaining stomach will continue to produce digestive juices that will be used in digestion. A portion of the small intestine will be shaped like a “Y” and connected to the pouch.
10. A drain may be placed in the incision site to remove fluid.
11. The incision will be closed with stitches.
12. A sterile bandage/dressing will be applied.