Gastric Bypass Complications Have To Be Viewed Over A Relatively Long Time Frame

Gastric bypass surgery (which is also known as bariatric or weight loss surgery) is assisting many thousands of severely obese people to lower their risk from such life-threatening conditions as hypertension and to get back much of their former lifestyle. Complications from gastric bypass surgery can however be significant and must be considered carefully before opting for surgery.

A variety of studies have been conducted into rates of gastric bypass complication in the short-term and these normally follow the progress of patients for approximately 30 days after surgery. A more recent study however (examining claims for hospital and outpatient care for over 5,000,000 individuals enrolled in employer sponsored health plans covering forty-nine states and including in excess of 2,500 weight loss patients) has now extended the results of previous studies to look in depth at complications arising up to 6 months following surgery.

The study showed that death occurred during the procedure, or in the 6 months following the procedure, in only 0.2% of patients and the most commonly seen complications were dumping syndrome (vomiting, diarrhea and reflux) which occurred in approximately 20% of cases, anastomosis problems (leakage or stricture arising at the join of the stomach and intestine) which was seen in about 12% of cases, abdominal hernias in 7% of cases, infections in approximately 6% of cases and pneumonia which was seen in approximately 4% of patients.

The study also revealed that just over 10% or patients who survived the first 30 days after surgery without complication went on to experience problems in the following 5 months. In almost all cases these problems consisted of dumping, abdominal hernia, anastomosis problems, and ulcers. Additionally, despite the fact that just less than 5% of patients had to be re-admitted during the 30 day period, this figure increased to just over 7% when looking at the longer 6 month time period.

The cost of gastric bypass surgery was also impacted considerably by problems and, while individuals who experienced surgery without problems paid an average of $25,000, complications within the 6 month post-surgical period pushed this figure up to just over $36,500. In cases where patients needed to be re-admitted to hospital as a result of gastric bypass complications the cost increased to just over $65,000.

Weight loss surgery is essentially the beginning of the weight loss process and, unlike many types of surgery which cure the problem instantly, the results of weight loss surgery take time to appear. It is not surprising therefore that complications arise after surgery and this is something that must be carefully considered before taking the decision to take this route.