Gastric Bypass Complications Lawyer - d'Oliveira & Associates

Side Effects of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Today, it would be nearly impossible for someone watching television to avoid seeing a commercial that has something to do with weight loss. Americans have become increasingly concerned both with their weight and body image. As a result of this growing desire to be slimmer, the number of patients opting to undergo gastric bypass surgery has risen substantially. This is especially true considering the number of Americans that are either overweight or obese. The National Center for Health Statistics recently reported that more than 34% of Americans are obese, nearly 33% are overweight, and almost 6% are categorized as “extremely” obese. However, statistics also show that many patients have experienced serious complications and death following gastric bypass surgery.

Gastric bypass surgery, also known as bariatric surgery or stomach stapling, is a procedure where the patient’s stomach is minimized in size by over 90%. Surgeons who perform this invasive surgical procedure staple and/or band the patient’s stomach. Then the patient’s stomach and small intestines are rerouted, altering the path by which food normally travels through the body.

The most common gastric bypass surgery is Roux-en-Y. The Roux-en-Y is a method of gastric bypass surgery, which creates a small pouch at the top of the stomach by stapling the stomach or placing a band around it. This small stomach pouch is then attached directly to the small intestine. Patients are not able to take in large amounts of food because the stomach is smaller in size. As a result, fewer calories are absorbed and weight loss ensues.

Typically, patients recovering from gastric bypass surgery expect to remain in the hospital anywhere from 2 to 6 days and return to their normal routines in about one month. However, gastric bypass surgery is not always successful. Serious complications often occur following the operation. A study released in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that 2% (1 in every 50) of gastric bypass patients die within one month of their surgery, and nearly 5% (1 in every 20) die within the first year.

Common Risks of Gastric Bypass Surgery

• Infections
• Development of gallstone
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Anemia
• Abdominal hernias
• Ulcers
• Pulmonary embolism (blockage of main artery of the lung)
• Gastric bleeds
• Leakage of gastric fluid

The most common of the severe complications of gastric bypass surgery are leakage of gastric fluid and gastric bleeds.

These types of injuries quickly cause serious infections that may result in death. Another potentially fatal complication of gastric bypass surgery is pulmonary embolism, which may cause the patient to experience heart and/or lung failure.

There seems to be a consensus among medical experts that complications often occur following gastric bypass surgery largely because of surgical errors. The two major reasons for these surgical errors seem to be the inexperience of the surgeons performing the operations and not properly determining if the patient is a suitable candidate for the surgery.

The American Medical Association has reported that complications are nearly 200% more likely to occur when the operating surgeon has performed under 100 gastric bypass surgeries. Studies also show a 1.6 times higher probability of death in gastric bypass patients whose surgeons are inexperienced (performed under 100 gastric bypass surgeries). Perhaps these statistics should not come as a surprise since many hospitals will even allow surgeons to perform the operation after they have attended just a single weekend seminar. At these seminars, the surgeons practice only a few gastric bypass operations under the supervision of a more qualified surgeon.

Some patients are better candidates for gastric bypass surgery than others because certain factors place individuals at a higher risk of suffering complications. A study performed by Dr. David Flum, and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that men were much more likely to die from surgical complications than women. Additionally, the study revealed that patients over the age of 65 are much more susceptible to suffering severe injury or death from gastric bypass surgery. Other risk factors include depression, alcohol problems, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

Several factors of consideration should also be met for an individual to even be considered a possible candidate for this dangerous procedure. First, a potential patient should be considered morbidly obese, 100+ pounds overweight. Second, the patient should have a body mass index (BMI) over 40. Body mass index is a number calculated from a person’s height and weight, providing an indication of their level of body fat. Third, the patient must undergo psychological testing to ensure they will be able to handle the drastic lifestyle changes that must be made following gastric bypass surgery. Finally, gastric bypass should be a final recourse, considered only after attempting other weight loss methods.

Why We Are Successful - Our Qualifications:

Attorney Paul d'Oliveira and his Associate Attorneys have settled thousands of personal injury cases over the past 23 years. We know who the best medical malpractice lawyers are for your specific type of case in RI and MA and are committed to helping you find the best lawyer to represent you. Remember the attorneys we work with do not charge a fee until you recover an award or a settlement for your case. While this firm maintains joint responsibility, medical malpractice cases are referred to a local attorney in your area who is experienced in litigating these types of cases.

Contact the Law Offices of d'Oliveira & Associates

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of gastric bypass surgery, you may want to speak with a personal injury attorney regarding your legal rights. The Law Offices of d’Oliveira and Associates, P.C., can help you receive all of the compensation you deserve.

Please contact the law offices of d'Oliveira & Associates at 1-800-992-6878 or fill out a contact form for a free legal consultation.