Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass

The Roux en Y gastric bypass is a combination of a malabsorptive and restrictive procedure, which can result in significant weight loss. At Howard University Hospital's Center for Wellness & Weight Loss Surgery, the Roux en Y gastric bypass is performed using a laparoscope rather than through an open incision. This laparoscopic method allows the surgeon to make a series of much smaller incisions.

Laparoscopic gastric bypass usually reduces the length of the hospital stay, the amount of scarring, and results in a quicker recovery than an open procedure.

The Roux en Y procedure involves stapling the stomach to create a small pouch that holds less food and then shaping a portion of the small intestine into a "Y." The "Y" portion of intestine is then connected to the stomach pouch so that when food is being digested it travels directly into the lower part of the small intestine (called the jejunum) and the first part of the second section of the small intestine (call the duodenum). The effect of bypassing these organs is to restrict the amount of calories and nutrients that are absorbed into the body.

The laparoscopic approach uses several small incisions and three or more laparoscopes - small thin tubes with video cameras attached - to visualize the inside of the abdomen during the operation. The surgeon performs the surgery while looking at a TV monitor. The advantage of the laparoscopic approach is that it allows direct viewing of the abdominal structures without the need for a large incision.

The benefits of the minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure include:

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