What general complications can result from gastric bypass?
The risk of short-term complications from this operation is about 12% (1 out of 8) and include internal bleeding, infection, wound problems, pneumonia, and hernia formation. Potentially life-threatening complications such as respiratory failure, pulmonary embolus (blood clots in the lung), and leakage from internal intestinal connections occur in approximately 2-5% of patients. Occasionally open operation or re-operation is needed to address these complications. Long-term complications (less than 10% of patients) include stricture (partial blockage) of internal intestinal connections causing vomiting, ulcer formation causing bleeding, internal hernia formation, inadequate weight loss or recurrent weight gain, and malnutrition. It is always possible to develop unforeseeable complications.
