Did you try for years to lose weight and keep it off? Were you always trying new diets in hopes that one would work? After much consideration, you may have opted for a gastric bypass surgery. Gastric bypass surgery is considered an “elective” surgery by patients that have exhausted all other weight loss efforts. If you had gastric bypass surgery, did your Virginia or DC doctor inform you of the risks involved with the procedure? While every surgery holds some risk, the complications during gastric bypass surgery and after can be long-lasting and life-changing. Read below to see if you were informed of all the potential complications:
From the surgical procedure (as with any surgery):
- Adverse reactions to anesthesia
- Excessive bleeding during surgery
- Lung or breathing problems
- Infection
Post-operative risks specifically related to gastric bypass:
- Leaks in your gastrointestinal system
Leaking can occur along any of the staple lines in your stomach and could require an additional emergency surgery.
- Narrowing of the opening between the stomach and small intestine
This complication requires an outpatient procedure to repair.
- Bowel obstruction
- Blood clots in the legs
- Dumping syndrome (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting)
When the stomach contents move too quickly through the small intestine causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness. There is no fix for this syndrome save for learning which foods trigger such a reaction.
- Gallstones
- Frequent vomiting
- Hernias
Caused from a weakness in the incision. Many times it will require an additional surgery to repair.
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Malnutrition or anemia
Nutrients are not absorbed as they should be so gastric bypass patients are often deficient in Vitamin B12, Iron, Calcium, and Vitamin D. These can be replaced by supplements, but this is a lifetime commitment.
- Stomach perforation
- Ulcers
Patients that are overweight are more at-risk for surgical complications, making gastric bypass surgery automatically carry more risk. If you had gastric bypass surgery in Virginia or DC and are suffering long-term negative effects, contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Shevlin Smith. For a free consultation call 703-721-4233 today.
To learn more about what to expect in your medical malpractice case, request a free copy of our book, Do I Have A Case? A Patient’s Guide to Virginia Medical Negligence Law.