The mini gastric bypass is a more recent modification of the standard gastric bypass. It has both restrictive and malabsorptive properties. The key distinction is that the surgery is less complex because it bypasses 2m of the small bowel. In theory, this surgery has a lower risk of staple “leak” than normal gastric bypass since it only requires one anastomosis (surgical join), whereas standard gastric bypass requires two.
According to some research, the mini gastric bypass achieves comparable or even better long-term weight loss results than the gastric sleeve, Roux-en-Y, and gastric bypass. The surgery is performed via laparoscopy and normally requires 2-3 days in the hospital. While the mini gastric bypass is more invasive than sleeve surgery, it is less invasive than the conventional gastric bypass (approximately 50 minutes faster – or 1.5 to 2.5 hours on the table).
Who Is a Candidate for Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Candidates for mini gastric bypass surgery include:
- People having a BMI greater than 40;
- People have a BMI greater than 35 and at least one obesity comorbidity.
Although there is no upper age limit, the surgery has been found to be hazardous after the age of 65 (although an obese but otherwise healthy 70-year-old may be less risky than a 60-year-old with many co-existing obesity disorders).
Most surgeons prefer the gastric bypass over the mini gastric bypass since it has been around longer, more staff are trained in the treatment, and there is more research on long-term outcomes.
Overall, two kinds of people may benefit from the mini gastric bypass.
These include patients with severe diabetes or those who are exceedingly obese, as weight reduction in the mini gastric bypass has been demonstrated to be slightly higher. Your surgeon will assess the solutions that are most appropriate for your situation.
Patients with severe reflux may potentially be candidates for this surgery. According to a recent study, despite early reservations, Although the mini gastric bypass did aggravate reflux initially, this was not the case after a year, and both the conventional and mini procedures had the same effect on reflux after a year, despite the fact that the mini gastric bypass did exaggerate reflux initially.
Who Should Not Have a Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery?
- People who are unwilling to make significant lifestyle changes, such as eating healthy and exercising;
- People who consume a lot of alcohol or smoke;
- People who gain weight while undergoing surgical evaluation;
- Individuals who have undergone many abdominal operations;
- People with certain mental health issues. These include persons suffering from binge eating disorder, substance misuse, anxiety disorders, serious depression, schizophrenia, and severe bipolar disorder, as well as those suffering from sexual abuse. People with these illnesses may still be able to have surgery, but a surgical team must evaluate them;
- People who use several drugs for these diseases should be aware that the mini gastric sleeve is a “malabsorptive” treatment that can impair the efficacy of these medications in the gut.
How to Get Prepared for Mini Gastric Surgery?
The team will examine you prior to surgery, which will include our bariatric physician, bariatric surgeon, and anesthetist.
Blood tests will be performed, and our dietitian and fitness trainer will evaluate you.
You might be recommended to begin a VLCD (very low-calorie diet) 2-3 weeks before surgery, with the goal of losing some weight.
The bottom line
The mini-bypass treatment provides more choices for revision surgery than the standard gastric bypass procedure. In particular, mini bypass allows you to disconnect the bowel and lengthen or shorten it, which is impossible with the conventional procedure.
