Before Your Surgery

Before Surgery

When it is determined that you are a good candidate for surgery, you may feel excited and anxious, ready to get on with your progress in weight reduction. The waiting period prior to surgery is an excellent time for you to prepare for the changes that will occur in your life. Patients, who begin making lifestyle changes before surgery, find that they feel stronger and begin to lose weight before surgery.

We strongly recommend that the patients lose five to ten, or more, pounds before surgery. We find that patients do best if they avoid “the last supper syndrome” and do not over eat prior to surgery. Patients are encouraged to start an exercise regimen, since this will be important during their post-operative phase. Exercise regimens include walking 30 minutes, three times a week for those individuals who can tolerate this. For patients with mobility issues, it is strongly encouraged access to an indoor swimming pool to initiate exercise in a water environment, which renders them relatively weightless. The healthier you are before surgery, the better your body will respond and heal after surgery.

Pre-Admission Testing

About one to two weeks before surgery you will have an appointment in Pre-Admission Testing. At that time you will meet with staff who will help you complete the journey toward your approaching surgical date. A nurse practitioner will review your past medical and surgical history, medications, lab work and tests performed during the bariatric screening process. The anesthesiologist will discuss types of anesthesia consent. Dependant upon the time of your appointment, the entire visit will take approximately two to three hours.

Anesthesia has the final decision regarding preoperative clearance. On an individual basis, additional appointments or tests may be required to complete the process.  You may have heard about different types of anesthetics used during surgery. At this time, all bariatric surgery procedures performed at Middlesex Hospital are done under general anesthesia. This type of anesthetic gives you a relaxed and comfortable sleep while your surgeon is working.

You will discuss the risks and benefits of general anesthesia during your pre-admission testing appointment.

Gastric Bypass Hospital Stay

The vast majority of patients are admitted the morning of surgery and would be discharged three days after the day of surgery. Exceptions to this would be patients who are over 400 pounds and who have severe fluid retention or heart disease. These patients may need to be admitted 1–2 days prior to the day of surgery to treat the fluid retention and improve their breathing capacity. These patients may also need to be in the hospital 1–2 days longer after surgery, but most patients are in the hospital a total of four days.

Potential Complications of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Any operation, no matter how big or small, has the potential for complications. This is a major operation and the potential complications include, but are not exclusive to: wound infection, incisional hernia, bleeding, blood clots in the legs or lungs, heart failure, heart attack, abscess, bowel obstruction, staple line leakage and other potentially serious complications. Minor complications include: wound infection, mild pneumonia, stomal strictures, and wound healing problems. With a severe complication, death could result.

Discharge from the Hospital after Gastric Bypass Surgery

After your stay in the hospital, you will be sent home when you are doing well and can either care for yourself or have made appropriate arrangements for some assistance at home for a few days. You will be seen in your surgeon’s office approximately 14–21 days after discharge. During the first days you are home before your first office visit, you will be on a liquid diet, which includes clear liquids and a protein rich supplement such as carnations instant breakfast. Decaffeinated tea or coffee is allowed. After your first visit, you will be started on a full liquid diet, which includes cooked cereals, strained soups, skim milk, plain yogurt, juices and other foods. You will be gradually advanced to pureed and finally solid foods over a 6-week period. All patients should take a multivitamin with minerals and iron once a day, every day for life.