Because of the many complications associated with the mini-gastric bypass weight loss procedure, it has been abandoned by nearly all bariatric surgeons as unsafe. In fact, The American Society for Bariatric Surgery has determined that the procedure should never be performed. The mini gastric bypass is done using a laparoscopic technique that avoids large scars and cuts down on operating time. However, this is still a very drastic procedure. The mini gastric bypass procedure is sometimes called the "Loop Gastric Bypass." The surgery requires less time in the operating room than the more commonly performed Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. However, insurance companies consider the procedure "experimental" and rarely cover it because of its poor safety record. The mini gastric bypass is "mini" only because the incisions are small when the surgery is done laparoscopically. The surgical changes are quite extensive. Common complications can send the patient back to the operating room, where large incisions may be required to repair internal leaks or remove infection. Some debilitating complications associated with the mini-gastric bypass, such as bile reflux, can appear a year or more after the surgery, and may require a major operation to reroute the digestive tract. During the surgery, a small portion of the stomach is surgically removed from the rest of the organ, and the lower portion of the new section is attached to the upper intestines below the pancreas. The larger portion of the stomach, which no longer connects to the esophagus, will remain in the abdominal cavity. Because only the smaller portion of the stomach is now used for digestion, and some of the intestinal tract is bypassed, patients eat smaller portions and nutrients are not well absorbed. This will lead to weight loss. Studies have shown that the mini-bypass procedure creates a severe hazard in the event of any leakage after surgery. It also seriously increases the risk of ulcer formation, irritation of the stomach pouch by bile, and could increase the potential of esophageal cancer. Many persons who underwent this procedure in the past have required major surgery to correct severe discomfort and life-threatening effects. Some medical experts believe the type of surgical connection used in the mini gastric bypass procedure can cause biliary reflux gastritis and other complications, in addition to the complications that are common to other gastric bypass procedures. The procedure resembles the Billroth II procedure, a surgical treatment for stomach cancer, which is no longer used because of safety concerns. Studies have shown that the risks associated with gastric bypass surgery can be reduced (but not eliminated), by having your surgery performed at a fully approved ASBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence (BSCOE). However, it will not be possible to find a Center of Excellence willing to offer the mini gastric bypass because of its poor safety record. During a search on the Internet to find surgeons who perform this procedure, this author could find only one name - Dr Robert Rutledge of Henderson, Nevada. Dr Rutledge also contracts with surgeons in other states who perform the mini-bypass procedure on a fee-splitting arrangement with Dr. Rutledge. Several press releases were found extolling the safety of the procedure, but these releases named Dr. Rutledge as the chief researcher. The Wall Street Journal published an article about this surgeon that questioned many of his safety claims. If you go ahead with the decision to have a mini gastric bypass, be sure to research the surgeon's experience and safety record, and speak with the surgeon's former patients. Most obesity clinics are happy to supply names of people who will give references. If you are considering the mini gastric bypass surgery because you don't want large scars, you might consider the Roux-en-Y or Lap-Band™ procedures instead. Both the gastric bypass and gastric banding surgeries can be done laparoscopically, which reduces the scarring and sometimes reduces the possibility of infection at the site of incision. The Center of Excellence near you will be able to perform these procedures.
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