subject: Gastric Bypass Failures and Revision Guide [print this page] Gastric Bypass Failures and Revision Guide
Patients who have undergone Gastric Bypass sometimes need revision surgery if emergency medical conditions exist, or if weight loss is less than satisfactory. Gastric Bypass, or RnY Gastric Bypass can be revised to support adequate weight loss, especially if failures exist.
Most revisions come about from failures in weight loss surgery. Many failures exist that can cause patients not to lose the adequate weight.
Lack of Adequate Weight Loss
Losing weight is the goal of gastric bypass, but sometimes weight loss doesn't meet the doctors standards. Doctors who are considering revision surgery will generally ask the patient about their eating and consumption habits, and even start monitoring their eating habits through a daily chart. Another reason could be due to metabolic or mechanical reasons.
The dietary habits of patients, who lack adequate weight loss, may sometimes get back on track if they change their normal diet behaviors. Other patients may not be lucky, others who maintain proper diet, may fail all together to lose weight.
If the patient is failing to lose the adequate weight, a conversion to Duodenal Switch is the logical choice. Duodenal Switch is a very powerful weight loss surgery, tackling metabolic and maladaptive problems that contribute to gastric bypass failure. Another option is to revise gastric bypass or try vertical sleeve gastrectomy.
Other Reasons For Gastric Bypass Failure
Gastric Bypass has been known to fail for these medical reasons and will most likely require revision surgery.
Gastro-Gastric Fistula occurs when the stomach pouch grows back and reconnects to the bypassed stomach. When this happen it effectively reverses the gastric bypass and can lead to weight gain. Revision options include Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Bypass.
Pouch Dilation is when the stomach pouch actually grows in size, allow the patient to consume more food than otherwise possible. A possible remedy is the re-trim the stomach pouch to restore the gastric bypass. Patients may need to convert to duodenal switch or sleeve gastrectomy.
Anastomotic Dilation is when the connection between the stomach pouch and the intestine stretches out, allowing the patient to consume more food than otherwise possible. To restore gastric bypass surgical banding or endoscopic fixation are used. Another option would be to convert to duodenal switch, or sleeve gastrectomy.
Emergency Medical Conditions
Emergency medical conditions can arise which can threaten the life of the patient and require emergency surgery. Medical problems include stricture, marginal ulcer, severe dumping syndrome. These conditions can be treated without revision surgery, but when these conservative treatments fail, emergency medical surgery is sometimes required. This emergency surgery may involve converting the gastric bypass into sleeve gastrectomy.
