How to Avoid Complications of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is becoming more popular, and many people want to understand the risks from complications from the surgery before the operation. If you're considering bypass surgery, consider theses risks from complications after surgery and how to avoid them.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 
    

   Gastric bypass surgery has risks common to all surgeries. A common complication is an infection in the incision after the surgery. To avoid complications from infection after gastric bypass surgery, make sure to allow the incision to drain and change bandages frequently.

2. Blood clots are another complication after gastric bypass surgery. Talk with your doctor before the surgery. He or she will most likely give you a blood thinner to reduce the risk. Make sure to discuss blood clot complications in depth with your doctor and what signs to look for in case you develop a clot.

3. A patient may suffer from chronic vomiting after gastric bypass surgery. If this happens, notify your doctor right away. If too much scar tissue forms, the opening between the stomach and bowl may be to small for food to pass. This situation is hard for the patient avoid if it occurs, so make sure to call your doctor if you start vomiting excessively. This complication is usually corrected through an outpatient procedure.

4. 
    

   Gallstones may pose a risk after gastric bypass surgery. Your surgeon should check before the surgery for gallstones. Ask about medication for gallstones after surgery to reduce your risk.

5. Hernias occur in about ten to twenty percent of patients after gastric bypass surgery. Avoid severe weight loss, heavy lifting, and pregnancy after surgery.

6. 
    

   Gastric bypass surgery limits the amount of nutrients your body absorbs. Talk with your doctor about daily vitamins to reduce the risk of nutrient deficiencies.

7. Bowl obstruction is another possibility after gastric bypass surgery. A patient who has laparoscopic gastric bypass has a higher risk than a patient who undergoes open surgery. The patient should discuss these complications with his or her doctor before the surgery.

8. Reduce the risk of dumping syndrome by avoiding sweets. Patients who eat too many sweets after gastric bypass may experience sweating, diarrhea, rapid pulse, and abdominal cramping. Dumping happens when small food particles quickly dump into the digestive system. Dumping typically lasts for 30 to 60 minutes and is quite uncomfortable.

9. Death after gastric bypass surgery is rare. It's less than 2%. Complications that cause death are bleeding and peritonitis. (inflammation of the peritoneum, a membrane lining the abdomen. To avoid these risks, notify your doctor if you have a bleeding problems. Avoid lifting anything heavy after the surgery. Notify your doctor right away if experience abdominal pain especially when moving. if you suffer from dehydration, make sure to contact your doctor. Fever is also a symptom of peritonitis.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to read all the paperwork your doctor gives you about complications after gastric bypass surgery.

Resources

• How to really change after you've read that self-help book
• How to prevent leg cramps
• My most popular article: How to raise your FICO credit score for free

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on 1/30/2009 good to know! 5*