Complications of Bariatric Surgery

Gastric Bypass

 Leak:

  • Incidence: ~1%
  • Occurrence: 2 days to 2 weeks out
  • Presentation: pain, fever, tachycardia
  • Treatment: EGD stenting and sututuring or laparoscopic drainage or revision

Anastamotic Stricture:

  • Incidence: ~1-3%
  • Occurrence: 2 weeks to 3 months out
  • Presentation: dysphagia, pain, vomiting
  • Treatment: EGD dilation or laparoscopic revision

Ulcer:

  • Incidence: ~1-3%
  • Occurrence: 1 month to years out
  • Presentation: pain, GI bleed
  • Treatment: Acid suppression medication or laparoscopic revision

Obstruction:

  • Incidence: ~4%
  • Occurrence: 1 month to years out
  • Presentation: pain, vomiting
  • Treatment: laparoscopic repair

Gastric Sleeve

Leak:

  • Incidence: ~1%
  • Occurrence: 2 days to 4 weeks out
  • Presentation: pain, fever, tachycardia
  • Treatment: EGD stenting or laparoscopic drainage or revision

Stricture:

  • Incidence: ~1%
  • Occurrence: 1 month to years out
  • Presentation: pain, vomiting
  • Treatment: EGD dilation or laparoscopic revision

 

Note: all weight loss procedures have elevated risk of preoperative pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction