During the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery, the surgeon creates a smaller stomach pouch. The surgeon then attaches a Y-shaped section of the small intestine directly to this pouch. This allows food to bypass a large portion of the small intestine. The small intestine absorbs calories and nutrients, and bypassing it eliminates some of that absorption and, in turn, calories. Working in tandem is the smaller stomach pouch, which causes patients to feel fuller sooner and eat less food.
Recovery time is moderate, with most patients being able to leave the hospital within a few days and return to work and semi-normal activity in less than two months.
The goal of gastric bypass surgery is to improve overall quality of life. Gastric bypass patients typically lose over 50 percent of their excess weight in the first year, and in most patients Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol will be improved or resolved.
This procedure is performed at both St. Vincent's and St. Luke's.
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