Roux-en Y

Roux-en Y is a combination of restrictive and malabsorption surgery, with the chief focus on malabsorption. The surgeon creates a small stomach pouch and then constructs a “bypass” for food. The bypass allows food to skip parts of the small intestine. Because food bypasses a large portion of the small intestine, the body cannot absorb as many calories or nutrients. Like other weight loss procedures, there are advantages and disadvantages to Roux-en Y which include, but are not limited to:

Advantages

• 83.7% of all type-2 diabetes cases are resolved, with resolution often occurring within days of the surgery.
• 96.9% of hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol levels in the blood) cases are resolved.
• 75.4% of hypertension cases are resolved, with 87.1 % being resolved or improved.
• 61.6% of excess weight is lost.
• The average excess weight loss after a gastric bypass procedure is generally higher than with a purely restrictive procedure.
• Back pain, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, depression and quality of life are improved or resolved.

Risks and Disadvantages

• Poor absorption of iron and calcium can cause low total body iron and a greater chance of iron-deficiency anemia. Patients who experience chronic blood loss should be aware of the risk of iron-deficiency anemia. Women, already at risk for osteoporosis, should be aware of the possibility of increased bone calcium loss.
• Metabolic bone disease can occur in some patients, resulting in bone pain, loss of height, humped back, and fractures of the ribs and hipbones.
• Low levels of B12 can lead to chronic anemia.
• The bypassed section of intestine cannot be seen through X-ray or endoscopy if there is bleeding, ulcers or malignancy.
• It is a permanent, nonreversible surgery.