Gastric bypass surgery (otherwise referred to as bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery) is helping many thousands of morbidly obese individuals to reduce their risk from diabetes and other life-threatening conditions and to regain much of their former lifestyle. Complications from gastric bypass surgery are however significant and need to be taken into consideration before electing surgery.
Numerous studies have been carried out into gastric bypass complication rates in the short-term and these normally follow the progress of patients for up to 30 days after surgery. A more recent study however (examining claims for both hospital and outpatient care for more than 5 million individuals enrolled in employer sponsored health plans covering 49 states and including in excess of 2,500 weight loss patients) has extended the findings of previous studies to look in depth at complications arising up to 6 months after surgery.
According to the study death occurred during, or in the 6 months following, surgery in only 0.2% of patients and the most common complications were dumping syndrome (reflux, vomiting and diarrhea) which happened in 20% of cases, anastomosis problems (such as leakage or stricture arising at the site of the join between the stomach and the intestine) which happened in 12% of cases, abdominal hernias in 7% of cases, infections in 6% of cases and pneumonia which happened in 4% of patients.
The study also found that just over 10% or patients who got through the first 30 days without complication went on to experience a problem in the following 5 months. In the majority of cases these problems were dumping, anastomosis problems, abdominal hernia, and marginal ulcers. In addition, although just under 5% of patients had to be re-admitted during the 30 day period, this figure climbed to a little over 7% when looking at the longer 6 month timeframe.
The cost of gastric bypass surgery was also affected considerably by complications and, while patients experiencing surgery without complication paid an average of just over $25,000, complications within the 6 month post-surgical period pushed this figure up to just over $36,500. In cases where patients had to be re-admitted to hospital because of gastric bypass complications the cost rose to a little over $65,000.
Gastric bypass surgery is very much the start of the weight loss process and, unlike many forms of surgery which cure the problem more or less on the spot, the results of weight loss surgery take time to show. It is not surprising therefore that problems will arise after surgery and gastric bypass complications must be considered carefully before you make the decision to embark on this particular journey.
