PreOp Patient Education
Friday, March 29, 2024

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Gastric Bypass

Open Surgery


Your Procedure

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Now it's time to talk about the actual procedure your doctor has recommended for you.

On the day of your operation, you will be asked to put on a surgical gown.
You may receive a sedative by mouth
and an intravenous line may be put in.
You will then be transferred to the operating table.
In the operating room, a nurse will begin preparation by clipping or shaving the abdomen.
The anesthesiologist will begin to administer anesthesia - probably general anesthesia by injection and inhalation mask.
The surgeon will then apply antiseptic solution to the skin . . .
... and place a sterile drape around the operative site.
After you are asleep,
the surgical team will make a vertical incision down the middle of your abdomen.
They will gently pull back the skin to expose the connective tissue beneath.
Your doctor will then divide this tissue,
... and the underlying muscle tissue to expose the abdominal cavity.
Your doctor will gently lift the liver up and to the side to reveal the stomach.
Your doctor will then cut the upper portion of the stomach from the rest of the organ.
This upper portion forms a small pouch, which is sealed with a stapling tool. The opening in the larger portion of the stomach is closed with staples.
The next step is to divide the small intestine.
The main part of the intestine is pulled upward, behind the colon and positioned near the small upper stomach pouch.
The other free end of the intestine is surgically stitched to the side of an intestinal loop.
The other end is now attached to the small stomach pouch. A new route for food passing from the esophagus into the intestines has now been created.
Finally, your doctor will check to make sure that all the new connections are secure and that there are no leaks. The liver and other organs are placed in their proper positions.
A drain is put in place to remove any excess fluids ... Then the team closes the surgical field by joining the muscles with sutures.
Then the connective tissues are closed. The skin is sutured together and the incision is closed.
Finally, a sterile dressing is applied.

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