Various Complications of Gastric Surgeries

Complications from surgery are rare but there are some complications that can be avoided if you are prepared prior to surgery and know the proper ways to care for yourself before and after surgery. Before any type of gastric surgery it is best to ask your doctor about any types of complications that may arise that is more specific to the type of surgery you may be undergoing. As there are various types of gastric surgeries for various conditions and symptoms each patients outcomes, healing rates and complications vary.

Pernicious Anemia is a type of anemia when the body has trouble making health red blood cells; this is due to a lack of vitamin B12. When the body lacks B12 the nervous system cannot work properly. A patient with pernicious anemia will be unable to absorb vitamin B12 from food sources because they lack the intrinsic factor (a protein made in the stomach). Red blood cells carry oxygen to our bodies, so the patient with pernicious anemia who is not producing enough red blood cells may experience fatigue and weakness eventually leading to damage to the brain, heart and other organs to the body with long lasting pernicious anemia if left untreated.

Treatment: B12 Injections

Iron Deficiency Anemia is the most common anemia and is as the name implies a deficiency of iron. As stated above red blood cells carry oxygen to body and help keep your body energized and keeps you skin a healthy color. Without iron your body can not produce enough hemoglobin which is the substance used to carry the oxygen through the body.

Treatment: Iron Supplements

Dumping Syndrome is the rapid emptying caused by distention of the jejunum (middle section of the small intestine) or duodenum (first section of the small intestine). This happens when the undigested portions of the stomach are "dumped" into the intestines to quickly. Some patients complain of nausea, pain or upset stomach with symptoms ranging from mild to severe occurring anywhere from one to four hours after eating.

Treatment: Frequent high protein, high fat meals per day, avoid drinking with meals, medications and reclining at least 1 hour after every meal.

While treatments may very per each patient's diagnosis this is only a simple guide to the basics of what may be a starting point for each patient. This article is not meant to treat or diagnose any person or patient illness. Please consult a physician if you feel that you are having any complication due to any type of gastric surgery due not try to self diagnosis your symptoms and self treat your symptoms without first consulting with your doctors.