Risks And Complications Of the Roux-en-Y Procedure

As with any major surgery, there can be complications. One of the most common in the Roux-en-Y procedure is blood clots in the legs. This occurs in about 0.2 percent of people undergoing the Roux-en-Y procedure. The clots have the potential to travel to the lungs, where they can have serious consequences. In order to prevent this you will be given blood thinners following surgery. You may also be asked to wear compression stockings. These are very tight stockings that have been proven to reduce blood clots in postoperative patients. Your doctor will want you to get up and walk as soon after surgery as possible. Early ambulation has also been proven to reduce the risk of blood clots. Finally,
although the risk of blood clots is highest in the days immediately following surgery, if you notice unexplained swelling in your legs or sudden shortness of breath once you are home from hospital, contact your physician and get yourself evaluated. Another risk is that occasionally food or liquids will leak out of the stomach instead of traveling directly into the jejunum. While this can be a serious complication occurring in about 1 percent of procedures, it can generally be
corrected. If this happens to you, you will need to return to the operating room. In general, one day after your gastric bypass surgery you will go down to the radiology department and drink something called gastrographin (this is a liquid that will show up on an x-ray). After you drink the gastrographin you will have an x-ray to make sure there is no leakage. If there is a problem, it can be addressed immediately.