Gastric bypass surgery is a form of weight reduction surgery that is more extensive than gastric banding, and therefore tends to be better suited to patients who have more weight to lose.
There are several types of gastric bypass, but all involve:
a) creation of a small stomach pouch to restrict food intake and
b) construction of bypasses of the duodenum and small intestine to cause malabsorption (decreased ability to absorb calories and nutrients from food).
Thus unlike gastric banding, which is a restrictive procedure only, gastric bypass is both restrictive and malabsorptive.
Types of gastric bypass surgery
Though there are a number of variations, two of the most commonly performed bypass procedures are the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB) and Biliopancreatic Diversion (BPD). These - and their variations - can be performed as either open or closed (keyhole) procedures.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB) – This operation is the most common gastric bypass procedure performed. First, a small stomach pouch is created by stapling part of the stomach together or by vertical banding. This limits how much food you can eat. Next, a Y-shaped section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch to allow food to bypass the duodenum as well as the first portion of the jejunum. This causes reduced calorie and nutrient absorption.
