The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is a weight-loss surgery that reduces the size of the stomach and reroutes the digestive tract, leading to reduced food intake and absorption.
The RYGB procedure involves several key steps:
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Gastric Pouch Creation: The surgeon creates a small stomach pouch, about the size of an egg, from the upper portion of the stomach. This significantly limits the amount of food you can eat at one time.
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Creation of Biliopancreatic Limb: The small intestine is divided, and the lower portion (the Roux limb) is connected to the newly created stomach pouch. The upper portion (the biliopancreatic limb), which still carries digestive enzymes from the stomach, liver, and pancreas, is left disconnected from the stomach pouch.
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Jejunojejunostomy Creation: The biliopancreatic limb is then connected to the Roux limb further down the small intestine. This allows digestive enzymes to mix with the food. This connection point is called the jejunojejunostomy.
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Creation of Gastrojejunostomy: The Roux limb (connected to the new stomach pouch) is connected to the small stomach pouch, forming a new outlet for food to pass through. This connection point is called the gastrojejunostomy.
The result of this procedure is that food bypasses a significant portion of the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine. This reduces calorie and nutrient absorption, leading to weight loss. RYGB can be performed using open surgery, laparoscopically (using small incisions and a camera), or robotically.
