Gastric Bypass Complications from Gastric Bypass Surgery
For info on Gastric bypass complications during major weight loss surgeries, read this page.
Gastric bypass complications can be any unexpected medical situations either physical or psychological following gastric bypass
surgery. Obviously, gastric bypass complications are the exception, not the norm but it is still very important to be aware of the possible complications when undergoing gastric bypass surgery for weight loss.
About 5% of people undergoing gastric bypass surgery, experience what can be considered significant gastric bypass complications. Approximately 10% of patients experience a more minor complication that requires attention but isn’t significant. The most common weight loss surgery complications with gastric bypass surgery are significant psychological challenges, incision hernia, incision infections, staple line leak or anastamotic leak and gastrostomy problems. Some of these gastric bypass complications will exhibit the problem within the first two months after surgery whereas others will demonstrate complications after the initial two months.
You will want to take care in choosing the hospital and the best surgeon to perform your gastric bypass surgery to minimize your fears and potential complications. You can look for a gastric bypass doctor in your area. Look for reviews of gastric bypass surgeon in your area and if you live in a small town, you may want to look for a doctor or hospital in a larger city where gastric bypass or lap band surgery procedures are more common. You want the best gastric bypass surgery hospital available – your health and weight loss depend on it.
Here is a list of other gastric bypass complications people may experience when undergoing a weight loss surgery like gastric bypass:
In the first couple of months following gastric bypass surgery
Incision Infections
Heart Attack
Transfusion
Anesthetic Problem
Blood clots to lungs
Cardiac Irregularity
Stroke
Pneumonia
Kidney Failure
Gastric Bypass Complications that show after the first 2 months following surgery
Major psychological challenges
Iron or B12 deficiencies
Small bowel obstruction
Anastamotic ulcer or stricture
Incision hernia
As noted, gastric bypass complications are the minority – but they are of concern. Discuss these surgery complications with your doctor. The most serious complication of course is risk of death. Statistics currently show that approximately 1 in 350 people die due to gastric bypass complications. This is on par with the national average for major surgeries done on a group of people that is obese and has other health problems. The mortality rate is lower for younger and healthier individuals and it is higher for older patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery, particularly those who are morbidly obese and those that have multiple health problems. The most common complications that cause death following gastric bypass surgery are staple or suture line leaks as well as respiratory complications and pulmonary embolism.
Other surgery complications include dietary and nutrient changes and deficiencies. Lactose intolerance is one issue to discuss with your doctor. Vitamin deficiencies such as iron deficiency, B1 or thiamine and Vitamin B12 deficiencies are all important to discuss with your doctor as particularly in the early period following gastric bypass surgery, you may not be able to eat enough to get the amount of these vitamins that your body needs.
If you feel you can explore alternatives to weight loss surgery instead of gastric bypass or other surgery – it would make sense to do so based on the gastric bypass complications.
