Alternatives to Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure that helps evade comorbidities associated with morbid obesity. This involves dividing the stomach into upper and lower pouch and re-arranging the small intestine. This results in a definite reduction in functional volume of the stomach, generating an altered psychological and physiological response to food.

Though the patient loses a considerable amount of weight, the procedure is not without complications and even surgery-related death. The surgery is associated with life-threatening ailments due to post-surgery metabolic effects. The comorbidities result in severe deterioration of overall health, and lower the quality of life by shortening life expectancy.

GBS is known to lead to the development of the following conditions:

• Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases like coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure;
• Diabetes mellitus type 2, Kidney failure;
• Nerve damage;
• Dysmetabolic Syndrome X;

• Hypertension or high blood pressure;
• Obstructive sleep apnea;
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease;
• Asthma;
• Gallbladder disease;
• Liver diseases, such as, steatosis, steatohepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver;

• Venous thromboembolic diseases, such as, thrombophlebitis and Pulmonary embolus;
• Degenerative disc diseases, such as, sciatica, spinal stenosis and lumbar spondylosis;
• Osteoarthritis.

Post-surgery complications include:

• Infection of the incisions due to release of bacteria during the operation;
• Hemorrhage;
• Hernia;
• Bowel obstruction;
• Anastomotic leakage;
• Anastomotic strictures and ulceration;
• Dumping syndrome;
• Nutritional deficiencies, such as, hyperparathyroidism and pernicious anemia.

Lap-Band Gastric Restriction: This procedure involves lowering the capacity of the stomach by fastening a band around the upper stomach to create a separate, smaller stomach pouch.

This greatly restricts the amount of food intake, inducing a sensation of having eaten to full capacity. This procedure does no involve cutting or any kind of stomach rerouting. It is not only least invasive, but also results in less pain and scarring.

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty: VBG is another common gastric bypass alternative. This procedure uses a surgical technique referred to as stomach stapling, to create the smaller stomach pouch that helps reduce food-intake.

The alternatives to the surgery in question also includes the application of non-surgical procedures, such as:

Dietary Therapy: This alternative to gastric bypass surgery involves the adherence to a strict diet to reduce calorie intake. Weight loss is achieved gradually and steadily.

The therapy includes educating the patient on the calorie content of different foods, general food composition, importance of reading nutrition labels, ideal food types to indulge in and nutritious food preparations. In this way, the patient is able to address and adhere to a low-calorie, low-fat dietary regimes at all times.

Exercise Therapy: Moderate physical exercise helps a lot in treatment of morbid obesity. Special exercise regimes are there to progress beyond initial 30 minutes and effectively target abdominal fat and waist circumference. Aerobic exercises, dance routines, brisk walking, cycling, jogging, swimming are part of therapy developed to address obesity.

Behavior Therapy: This therapy aims at improving exercise and diet activity patterns and habits. The strategies focus on effective weight loss and identification of associated high-risk situations.

The patient is made conscious about the effects of high-calorie food and is rewarded for exercising longer or consuming little or no fatty foodstuffs. Behavior therapy involves the development of a social support network to motivate and encourage weight loss.