Risks of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Getting a gastric bypass surgery is a major decision. It requires careful research of the procedure and its potential risks in order to avoid post-surgery complications. It is therefore crucial to know the risks of gastric bypass surgery.

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There are several different risk factors that play a role in gastric bypass surgery: pre-existing risk factors, general complications common to all abdominal surgeries, specific gastric bypass surgery risks, and risks related to the experience level of the surgeon.

nnPre-existing Risk Factors for Gastric Bypassnn

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• Degree of Obesity
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• Heart Disease
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• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
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• Diabetes Mellitus
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• History of Prior Pulmonary Embolism
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nnGeneral Risks of Abdominal Surgeriesnn

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• Infection
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• Hemorrhage
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• Hernia
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• Bowel obstruction
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• Venous thromboembolism
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nnSpecific Risks of Gastric Bypass Surgerynn

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• Anastomotic leakage
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• Anastomotic stricture
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• Anastomotic ulcer
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• Dumping syndrome
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nnChoosing a Surgeonnn

Much of the risk of death within 30 days after the surgery is attributed to the level of experience of the surgeon. There is a learning curve for surgeons who perform gastric bypass surgery. Once surgeons have gained experience and performed more than 20 procedures, the short-term risk of death is much lower and closer to 0.5%.