Staple Line Failures - Gastric Bypass

STAPLE LINE FAILURE: A RISK OF GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY
If estimates are corrected, then more than 100,000 individuals who are considered either overweight or obese have opted to undergo gastric bypass surgery within the past 12 months. A great number of people enjoy at least initial success following the surgery, which is intended only for those who are at least 100 pounds overweight or have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher. But what about the long-term effects? There have been many documented health risks and possible side effects to gastric bypass surgery, including the possibility that it may result in death.

One of the more common problems associated with this surgery is the failure of the staple line, which occurs in roughly 15-percent of the people who have the operation. Gastric bypass staple line failure symptoms include the possibility of leaks or bleeding where staples have come loose, the formation of an ulcer or stricture, and the possibility that additional surgery will be required to solve the problem. On a lesser scale, the dislodging of a staple or seal can also result in the failure of the procedure's core purpose, which is to make the stomach smaller and make it easier for an individual to feel full while taking in less food than normal.

Gastrointestinal leaks can be quite serious. Symptoms of a leak following gastric bypass surgery include possible infection, the formation of an abscess, peritonitis and the possibility of a fatality occurring. An abscess occurs when pus or blood collects in the abdomen, and can be treated by draining away the infected fluid and using antibiotics to destroy the infection. The source of the infection, in this case the gastrointestinal leak, must also be corrected surgically. Peritonitis, on the other hand, is an inflammation of the membrane covering the abdominal walls and protecting the organs in that location. Treatment traditionally involves antibiotics to stave off the infection and surgery to correct the leak causing the irritation.

Staple line failure is just one of many possible risks involved with the surgery, including such possible complications as a pulmonary embolism, obstructions of the bowels, pneumonia, hernias and potential liver failure. Yet there are rewards to the surgery, including the possibility of improved quality of life. Clearly, there is no easy answer for those wondering whether or not gastric bypass surgery is worth the risks involved. Anyone who is considering having weight reduction surgery, however, is advised to speak with his or her doctor and weight the possible alternatives before committing to a gastric bypass operation or similar weight loss procedure.