What are the possible complications of gastric bypass surgery?
Obstruction of the intestine
Early gastrointestinal bleeding
Stenosis of the gastrojejunal anastomosis
Late complications that affect weight loss
Metabolic alterations
Obstruction of the intestine can occur in the mesocolic or mesenteric orifices, as well as in the Petersen space.
Early gastrointestinal bleeding is generally associated with staple lines.
Stenosis of the gastrojejunal anastomosis can be resolved through sequential endoscopic dilations.
Late complications that affect weight loss may be due to anatomical or technical failures in the bypass, such as dilation of the gastric remnant, gastrogastrostomy fistulas, and an increase in the intestinal absorption surface associated with hypertrophy of the intestinal epithelium.
Metabolic alterations that can be observed after gastric bypass include rapid weight loss, which tends to alter the homeostasis of bile salts, increasing the lithogenic potential and leading to gallstones.