Bariatric surgery, or weight-loss surgery as it is also known, is a surgery that will change your digestive system's anatomy in order to limit and control the amount of food your stomach can hold at any certain time. Bariatric surgery will aid in weight loss along with lowering the patient's medical problems and risks associated with being obese. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are four types of bariatric surgeries available and each one has its own set of risks.
General Risks
According to the National Library of Medicine, as with any surgery that will involve anesthesia, a patient is at risk for blood clots, stroke, lung infections, heart attack or even death. Because of advances in modern medicine these risks are low but will depend on the patient's age, health problems and whether he has a history of previous stroke or heart attack. Bariatric surgery will also make the patient run a higher than normal risk of gallstones and gallbladder disease.
Lap Band
According to the Banner Bariatric Centers, some of the risks associated with lap band surgery include bleeding or blood clots after surgery, infection around the band or port, slippage or erosion of the band or other complications with the band that may require additional surgery to correct. Another risk of lap band surgery is that the patient may not feel full after eating. This can cause the patient to ingest more food, which can cause blockage around the band and also cause the smaller portion of the stomach to stretch.
Gastric Bypass
According to the Mayo Clinic, some complications of gastric bypass surgery include bleeding stomach ulcer, dehydration, kidney stones, low blood sugar, and mineral and vitamin deficiencies. Other risks of gastric bypass surgery include incision hernia; the opening between the small intestine and the stomach may narrow, which can require additional surgery; and leaking may occur at one or more of the staple lines within the stomach. Patients who have gone through gastric bypass surgery may also experience what is called the dumping syndrome. This is where the contents of the stomach move too quickly going through the small intestine, which will cause diarrhea, sweating, nausea and vomiting.
Biliopancreatic Diversion With Duodenal Switch
According to the Texas Center for Obesity and General Surgery, some of the risk factors associated with biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch include chronic diarrhea along with horrible smelling flatulence, hernia at the surgical incision, and the inability to maintain proper levels of vitamins and minerals. These nutritional deficiencies could also lead to other more serious risks such as metabolic bone disease, anemia and protein deficiency.
Vertical Banded Gastroplasty
According to Karen Kassel, a registered dietitian at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, some of the risk factors associated with vertical banded gastroplasy include the staples breaking down, which would then cause stomach juices to flow into the patients abdomen; slipping or erosion of the band; enlargement of the stomach pouch; and also reflux esophagitis. Additional risk may also include vomiting, abdominal hernia, which occurs in about 10 to 20 percent of all patients, infection at the wound area, excessive bleeding and also vitamin deficiencies.
