Why aren all gastric bypasses done laparascopically?
Laparoscopic gastric bypass is a difficult operation to learn to do safely. It also takes longer and is more expensive. The result is that most gastric bypasses in the United States are done open at this time. For most patients laparoscopic surgery is better (less pain, shorter hospital stay, less scarring, quicker return to usual activities). As more surgeons learn to do laparoscopic gastric bypass safely and patients demand it, more laparoscopic gastric bypasses will be done.
