What is Gastric Bypass?
Gastric bypass is a metabolic and weight-loss procedure. It is also known as "Roux-en-Y." The procedure modifies the digestive system so that it consumes and absorbs fewer calories. It modifies the stomach and small intestine.

How Gastric Bypass surgery works?
First, it reduces the functional part of the stomach to a small pouch, separating it from the rest with surgical stitches. This reduces the amount of food the stomach can hold. Then, it connects the new gastric pouch to a lower segment of the small intestine.

This means that when food passes through the digestive system, it bypasses most of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. Because of this bypass, the digestive system does not absorb all the nutrients (or calories) present in food.

How common is Gastric Bypass?
Gastric bypass has been practiced, studied, and perfected for over 50 years. At one time, it was the most common weight-loss surgery, but in recent years it has been surpassed by the gastric sleeve. Currently, gastric bypass accounts for approximately 18% of all bariatric surgeries.

Is Gastric Bypass a serious surgery?
Yes. Although it is considered a safe procedure, comparable to many other common surgeries, gastric bypass is a major procedure that will permanently change your digestive system. Even after recovery, you will need to continue taking special care of it for life.

Symptoms of Anastomotic Leaks
Anastomotic leaks occur in 1.5% to 6% of bypass surgeries, depending on the type of surgery. A leak can occur up to several weeks after surgery. Most develop within 3 days of surgery. Symptoms of an anastomotic leak include:

• Rapid heart rate
• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Discharge from a surgical wound
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain in the left shoulder area
• High blood pressure
• Decreased urine output

The greater your obesity, the greater your risk of an anastomotic leak. Other risk factors include being male, having other health problems besides obesity, and a history of previous abdominal surgery.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Anastomotic Leak
A diagnostic test for an anastomotic leak is an upper gastrointestinal exam or a CT scan. Both involve swallowing a liquid contrast agent and then performing X-rays to check for the contrast agent leaking from the anastomosis. Even if the test is negative but symptoms persist, your doctor may recommend emergency surgery to detect the leak.

The medical team treating the anastomotic leak will likely take the following steps:

• Administer intravenous antibiotics. Drain any infection caused by the leak, repair it, or create a new anastomosis through another procedure.
• Use upper endoscopy to place a temporary stent across the leak, either from inside the gastric pouch or from the small intestine.
• Hold off oral feedings. You may be fed through a nasogastric tube that goes directly into the intestine until the leak heals.