Gastric Bypass Surgery in Abu Dhabi, UAE

What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Gastric bypass surgery is a weight loss procedure that involves partitioning a portion of the stomach and part of the intestine, then connecting the remaining stomach directly to the intestine. By creating a shorter food passage, this approach allows patients to lose up to 70% of their excess weight by significantly reducing the stomach’s capacity to hold food and causing a change in the way the food is absorbed by bypassing part of the normal route of digestion and absorption. It is usually done using keyhole surgery under general anaesthesia.

Why is the Gastric Bypass done?

Gastric bypass surgery is particularly beneficial for patients with obesity or morbid obesity based on the BMI and is more useful in patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, high cholesterol etc. This procedure can lead to significant weight loss and improve metabolic health, helping to manage or even reverse diabetes in many cases.

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Why Choose Gastric Bypass Surgery at Reem Hospital, Abu Dhabi?

At Reem Hospital Abu Dhabi, we bring together expert bariatric surgeons and state-of-the-art medical equipment to ensure the best outcomes for gastric bypass surgery. Our dedication to continuous medical education keeps us up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field, enhancing our ability to provide exceptional bariatric care.

Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery

The benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery include:

• Fast and Maintained Weight Loss: It offers a quick way to lose a significant amount of weight, especially for those who struggle to maintain weight loss through diet and exercise alone. Equally important is the ability to maintain long-term weight loss, which is not the case with medications.
• Effective for Severe Obesity: For individuals with severe obesity, weight loss surgery can be the most effective treatment option.
• Improvement of Related Health Conditions: The surgery not only helps with weight loss but also improves related health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, and acid reflux. By addressing excessive weight, it treats the root cause of these conditions.
• Lower Risk of Serious Illness: Weight loss surgery significantly reduces the risk of death from serious health problems like cancer and heart disease.

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Procedures of Gastric Bypass Surgery

First, you will receive general anesthesia, so you will be asleep during the surgery and won’t feel any pain. The surgery has two main steps:

Making the Stomach Smaller: The surgeon staples your stomach to create a small pouch about the size of a walnut, which limits the amount of food you can eat and helps you lose weight.

Bypassing Part of the Small Intestine: The surgeon connects your pouch to a new opening in the small intestine, allowing food to bypass part of the intestine, which reduces the length of intestine involved in the absorption of nutrients.

How to prepare for Gastric Bypass Surgery

Preparing for bypass surgery involves several important steps to ensure your safety and readiness for the procedure:

Health Assessment: Compile your medical and family history, and discuss your concerns, fears, and goals for the surgery with your doctor. You will also need to attend a presurgical assessment, including an anesthesia evaluation, to assess your heart and lung function and ensure your body can safely undergo the surgery.

Blood Tests: You’ll have blood tests to check your metabolic and nutritional health.

Additional Tests: Depending on your health and the specific type of surgery, you may need additional tests. For example, if you have gastrointestinal symptoms, an endoscopy may be required. Your surgeon may also suggest tests for sleep apnea, imaging studies, or bone density tests.

Consult with a Bariatric Dietitian: Meet with a bariatric dietitian before surgery to understand what to expect in terms of dietary changes after the procedure. Your surgeon may also recommend a liver shrinkage diet to prepare your body for surgery, and the dietitian will guide you on this process.

Stop Smoking: It’s important to stop smoking at least 4-6 weeks prior to surgery. You will not be considered a candidate for bariatric surgery if you continue smoking. Smoking increases the risk of developing ulcers at the surgical site and can compromise your health and surgical results.

Prepare Your Clothing: Make sure to prepare clothes that are comfortable and appropriately sized for after surgery.

These preparations will help ensure you are in the best possible condition for surgery.

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Aftercare getting Gastric Bypass Surgery

• Your diet should support healing, gradually introduce smaller portion sizes, and help prevent complications. Follow these stages:
  • Liquids (Weeks 1–2): Start with clear liquids like broth, unsweetened juice, and decaffeinated tea. Gradually add other liquids, such as milk and sugar-free gelatin, as tolerated.
  • Blended Foods (Weeks 2–3): Transition to pureed or blended foods like lean meats, soft scrambled eggs, and cooked vegetables.
  • Soft Foods (Weeks 3–4): Include soft, easy-to-chew foods like ground lean meats, scrambled eggs, and canned fruit. Focus on foods that are tender and easy to digest.
  • Solid Foods (8 weeks and beyond): Reintroduce firmer foods, such as lean meats and cooked vegetables. Avoid high-fat, high-sugar, or hard-to-digest foods that could cause discomfort or complications.
• Rest is essential during recovery. Do not resume intense physical activities too quickly. Gradually ease back into exercise based on your doctor’s recommendations.
• It is absolutely essential that you refrain from smoking for at least 3 months (preferably stop smoking completely) after surgery, as smoking can hinder healing and increase the risk of complications. Smoking is the bane of bariatric surgery, and ulcers that may develop at the surgical sites can be a source of misery and pain after surgery.
• Stay on track with your follow-up appointments and take any prescribed supplements. These are crucial for ensuring proper recovery and long-term success.
• Avoid Pregnancy for at Least 18 Months: It is important to avoid pregnancy for at least 18 months (about 1 and a half years) after surgery.
  Adopt alternative contraception methods if you are using hormonal methods.

Risks/Side effects of Gastric Bypass Surgery

• Anesthesia Risks: The use of anesthesia during surgery can cause respiratory or throat problems, such as difficulty breathing or swallowing.
• Malnutrition: Due to reduced nutrient absorption, patients may develop vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Lifelong supplementation (e.g., iron, calcium, vitamin B1, B12) is often required to prevent malnutrition.
• Bleeding and Leakage: Although rare (less than 2% chance), bleeding and leakage can occur at the sites of the staple lines in the postoperative period and may, in some cases, require surgical correction.
• Stomal Stenosis: This refers to the narrowing of the opening between the stomach and intestine, which can cause vomiting after eating or drinking. While it is treatable, it requires prompt medical attention.
• Dumping Syndrome: When food moves too quickly into the small intestine, it can cause:
  • Early Dumping Syndrome: Bloating, abdominal cramps, nausea, heart palpitations, and dizziness.
  • Late Dumping Syndrome: Symptoms such as hunger, confusion, fatigue, sweating, and fainting.
• Hair Loss: Hair loss can occur between 6–12 months after surgery, but it is usually temporary.
• Taste Disturbances and Bowel Changes: Taste disturbances and bowel changes (such as constipation or loose stools) can occur, but they are usually not significant.
• Loose Skin: Loose skin is inevitable due to weight loss. While regular exercise and toning may help manage it, significant weight loss may still result in loose skin that cannot always be avoided.

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