Gastric bypass surgery is a type of bariatric surgery that aids morbidly obese patients with weight loss. It is a division of the stomach and small intestine, then reconnection of the smaller stomach division with another portion of the small intestine. Patients eat less after the procedure, which eventually leads to weight loss and reduction of health problems.
Origins
The first reported event of gastric bypass surgery was in 1954. Dr. A.J. Kremen and his team connected the patient's upper and lower intestine, which bypassed much of the absorption area.
Evolving in 1963
Gastric bypass surgery continued its evolution in 1963 with the techniques applied by Drs. Payne, DeWind and Commons. Their procedure consisted of what is known as a jejunocolic shunt. The jeujuno-ileal bypass connected the upper small intestine to the colon. This technique resulted in uncontrollable diarrhea in the patients.
Mini-Gastric Bypass
In 1967, a technique which is closer to the modern day technique was developed by Drs. Mason and Ito. It is known as a mini-gastric bypass, which takes a loop of small bowel for reconstruction.
Gastric Bypass Surgery in 1973
There was a modification to the procedure in 1973 by Drs. Scott and Dean. There was a bypass of smaller lengths of intestine, which resulted in major dehydration, diarrhea and liver disease for patients.
Modern Day Techniques
In 1990 there was the gastric band by Drs. Kuzmac and Yap. In 1993 was the duodenal switch from Drs. Hess and Marceau, which ended stomach ulcers with the procedure. In 1996 was the procedure by Drs. Scopinaro and Gianetta, which is used in surgeries today. This is the Roux en-Y, which loops from the upper stomach to the small bowel. This type of surgery has the most effective weight loss which creates the least in nutritional deficiencies.
