What
is a Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?
Gastric bypass is a restrictive and malabsorptive procedure
that is used to treat morbid obesity by making the stomach
smaller and allowing food to bypass a part of the small
intestine. Because of these changes, you will feel fuller
more quickly and consume fewer calories. You will also
absorb fewer calories, leading to overall weight loss.
How is a Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y
Gastric Bypass performed?
Laparoscopic surgery uses a thin, telescope-like instrument
called a laparoscope which is inserted through a small
incision in the umbilicus. The laparoscope is connected
to a tiny video camera which projects a video image of
the operative site onto video monitors in the operating
room. The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide, a gas,
to allow your surgeon a better view of the operative area.
A total of six incisions will be made with an umbilical
incision, two incisions on each side of the upper abdomen
and one just below the breast bone. Instruments are inserted
through these incisions.
In a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the stomach is made smaller
by creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach using
surgical staples or sutures. The smaller stomach is connected
directly to the middle portion of the small intestine
(jejunum), bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper
portion of the small intestine (duodenum). The old stomach
remains intact and functional, secreting necessary enzymes
for digestion into the small intestine.
Why Laparoscopic?
___Six tiny scars instead
of one large abdominal scar.
___Shorter hospital stay
in uncomplicated cases.
__
Reduced post-operative pain.
___Shorter recovery time
and quicker return to daily activities, including work.
What can I expect after surgery?
It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions after
surgery. An x-ray swallow study is done the day after
surgery to evaluate the stomach pouch. If the stomach
pouch looks good, you will be started on a liquid diet.
It is very important that you follow a strict dietary
protocol. If you are able to tolerate your liquid protocol,
you should be discharged the second day after surgery.
You will be on liquids for two weeks followed by a pureed
diet eventually progressing to regular food after approximately
a month’s time. It is important for patients to adhere
to a vitamin regimen and close follow up with their surgeon.
For more information on this procedure, please click
here.
To make
an appointment with Dr. Rosser, please call 212-420-4337.
