Similar Treatments and Alternatives for RouxenY Gastric Bypass

The Roux en Y Gastric Bypass is a commonly used bariatric surgery that is applied in obese and morbidly obese patients. The surgery will reduce the capacity of the stomach, making it able to hold only up to 20 ml of food at once. This will mean that the patient will feel full and if eating foods that are not calorie rich, a healthy weight loss should be achieved. There are several other types of bariatric surgeries that can be performed instead of the Roux en Y Gastric Bypass, and there are also other alternatives to getting rid of extra weight.

LAP BAND®

LAP BAND® is a procedure that may be performed as a surgery or a laparoscopic procedure. This procedure will consist of the implantation of a silicon device around the stomach. Two stomach pouches will be created so that the digestion will be performed at a slower rate, which will mean that the brain will get signals that the stomach is full for a longer period of time. This will result in decreased appetite and weight loss. The silicone band can be adjusted laparoscopically as the patient progresses.

Stomach Stapling

Stomach stapling is also known as the vertical banded surgery and will be done using a medical stapler. The staples will create a small pouch, just like in the case of the Roux en Y Gastric Bypass, and this will restrict the amount of food that can be consumed at once. The stomach stapling cannot be performed as a laparoscopic procedure, so there will be a need for an incision in the stomach area.

Intragastric Balloon

The intragastric balloon procedure is most often performed without an incision, by introducing a deflated balloon in the stomach. When the balloon is in place, it will be inflated, so it will take up some space in the stomach and the patient will only be able to eat certain amounts of food. The balloon can be inflated more, if the patient needs to lose more weight and if the stomach starts stretching.

Gastrectomy

Gastrectomy is the procedure that removes 1/5 of the stomach through surgery. The area after the major curve of the stomach will be eliminated and the remaining areas will be stapled together. The gastrectomy reduces less of the stomach’s capacity, as opposed to the Roux en Y Gastric Bypass, which reduces up to 90% of the stomach.

The gastrectomy may have variations and may be performed also as a sleeve gastrectomy with a duodenal switch. This will involve disconnecting the stomach from the duodenum and linking it to the small intestine. This procedure may be more effective than a simple gastrectomy, but is considered less efficient than the Roux en Y Gastric Bypass.

Gastric Stimulation

The gastric stimulation is a surgery that will involve introducing a mechanical device in the patient’s stomach. The device is similar to a heart pacemaker and will send out impulses to the brain; the patient will not feel hungry.