Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the most commonly performed
operation for weight loss in the United States, according to the
American Society for Bariatric Surgery. In this procedure, the
surgeon creates a small pouch at the top of the stomach to
restrict food intake. Then, a Y-shaped section of the small
intestine is attached to the pouch to allow food to bypass the
lower stomach and the first part of the small intestine. This
reduces the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs.
Physicians on the medical staff at Texas Health Presbyterian
Hospital Plano often perform Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
laparoscopically. With laparoscopy, the surgeon makes one or
more small incisions through which slender surgical instruments
are passed. This technique eliminates the need for a large
incision and allows for a faster recovery. Patients who have
undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery must modify their
food choices because of a "dumping syndrome" often caused by the
surgery. When patients eat a meal high in simpl