Center for Bariatric Surgery
Surgical Options
The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Procedure
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure performed
at the Center for Bariatric Surgery is endorsed
by the National Institutes of Health, American College
of Surgeons, Mayo Clinic, Harvard Medical School Affiliated
Hospital and the American Society of Clinical Nutrition,
as well as other well-respected medical organizations.
Whether performed using the open or laparoscopic technique,
the first part of the Roux-en-Y
gastric bypass procedure involves creating a small
stomach pouch. The surgeon begins by dividing the stomach
in two unequal parts, creating a small upper section
and a larger bottom section. The small upper section
has a one-half ounce capacity. After the surgery, this
pouch will be the only part of the stomach to receive
food. The remainder of the stomach will be bypassed
in the digestive process.
With the stomach divided, a segment of small intestine,
known as the Roux Loop, is brought from the lower abdomen
and joined with the small stomach pouch. When joining
the Roux Loop to the stomach pouch, surgeons create
a half-inch opening, referred to as the "stoma."
The suture line of the stoma is inverted to reduce the
possibility of leakage. This feature is routinely performed
by the Center for Bariatric Surgery.
During the next part of the procedure, the bypassed
portion of the stomach and a portion of the intestinal
tract, known as the duodenum, are reconnected to the
Roux Loop at a point located 100 centimeters from the
stoma. This point of bowel reconnection is referred
to as the "entero-enterostomy." The remainder
of the intestinal tract is not disturbed.
Although the bypassed stomach is unable to receive
food following surgery, it remains intact and still
performs an important function in the digestive process.
The food passes through the newly created stomach pouch,
while the bypassed stomach continues to secrete stomach
juices flowing through the intestinal tract. These digestive
juices, along with those from the pancreas and liver,
join with food at the entero-enterostomy to begin the
digestive process.
Learn about laparoscopic
gastric bypass surgery.
Learn about open
gastric bypass surgery.