Is Gastric Bypass Worth the Risks?

Gastric bypass surgery is done out of necessity when morbid obesity threatens the patient's life and all other methods to reduce weight have failed. Is gastric bypass worth the risk?

Benefits

• For a person who is 100 pounds overweight and suffering from dangerous illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, a gastric bypass can be a serious option.

Complications

• If the band and staples that close part of the pouch break away, or if there is a leak in the stomach pouch, the patient can be at risk.

Other complications

• This surgery could result in further complications such as bleeding, blood clots, bowel problems, gallstones and blood infection.

Nutritional Deficiency

• A person who undergoes a gastric bypass will require nutritional supplements all his life. If he has a nutritional deficiency, he can become anemic or have osteoporosis from a low intake of iron and calcium.

Dumping Syndrome

• A patient who has undergone a gastric bypass will experience a "dumping syndrome" when food passes down the intestines quickly, causing diarrhea, weakness, nausea and cold sweat.