How Has Gastric Bypass Surgery Changed in Recent Years?

One of the greatest changes in gastric bypass surgery is that it is much safer than it was 10 years ago. The death rate 10 years ago was approximately 1 in 200, however now the death rate is approximately 1 in 1000.  The complication rates has also significantly improved. This is attributed to the fact that most gastric bypass surgery is performed laparoscopically today. Also the laparoscopic techniques that we use are much improved.  The instruments that we use today are also much improved. 

The only change in gastric bypass surgery over the past 10 years is that most gastric bypass surgeries currently being performed are done laparoscopically through 6 tiny incisions instead of the old open incision resulting in less wound complications and a much quicker recovery.  Also 10 years ago some surgeons did not divide the stomach, but only stapled the stomach and 50% of the times the staple lines would come apart.  Presently, most surgeon divide the stomach when performing gastric bypass.

Gastric Bypass surgery has been standardized for many years and results are predictable with the patients following good nutrition and excercise routine. Without proper nutrition a gastric bypass patient may not do 'well" in the long term, sure there are some exceptions to the rule. There are multiple reasons for having "issues" after gastric bypass surgery and usually these can be managed medically. A critical component for success is sound nutrition and behavior modification. 

Regarding: "How Has Gastric Bypass Surgery Changed in Recent Years?
I have talked to a few women online who had bypass surgery 10+ years ago. A lot of them seem to have problems with their surgery. Coincidence? Or has the surgery improved since then?"

Gastric Bypass Surgery is a grab bag term which lumps together all surgical procedures which permanently change the stomach to cause weight loss by either decreasing the stomach size, the hastening the passage of food through the intestine to decrease absorption or Both. In the past 10 years, the field of Bariatric Surgery has improved exponentially with a revolution in the number of different techniques, in better instruments, in patient screening and management. Things continue to get better with new procedures including potentially operations without incisions through the abdomen. This is a very exciting time to be a Bariatric surgeon.

Dr. Peter Aldea