Single Anastomosis Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass is a surgical procedure to treat obesity that involves reducing the size of your stomach to facilitate early satiety, and bypassing a section of your intestine to limit food absorption. A gastric bypass procedure is usually carried out by a Roux-En-Y procedure where your stomach and intestine are reconnected (anastomosed) in two places. A single anastomosis gastric bypass is a modification that simplifies this procedure, reducing operating time and complications.

Like any bariatric surgery, single anastomosis gastric bypass is indicated when obesity endangers your health, eating habits are difficult to control and significant weight loss is not achieved through diet and exercise.

Single anastomosis gastric bypass operation is performed under general anaesthesia. The procedure may be performed by open surgery (making a large incision) or a laparoscopic method, which involves making 3 to 4 small incisions through which a camera and small instruments are introduced. Your stomach is first stapled so that a pouch is created separate from the rest of your stomach. In the Roux-En-Y procedure, the intestine is then divided and one end connected to the stomach pouch while the other end is reconnected back to the intestine. With single anastomosis gastric bypass, the pouch is connected (anastomosed) after the duodenum without making a division in the intestine. Following the procedure, your incisions are closed.

As with any surgical procedure, a single anastomosis gastric bypass may be associated with risks such as infection, bile reflux and nutritional deficiency.