Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery

Last revised by Rohit Sharma on 8 Feb 2024

A Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is one of the most common bariatric surgeries, used to treat morbid obesity.

In this laparoscopic operation, the stomach is stapled or divided to form a small pouch (typically <30 mL in volume), which is anastomosed to the Roux limb (also known as the efferent or alimentary limb) made of jejunum of varying length (typically 75-150 cm).

The Roux limb may be brought up to the gastric pouch in two ways:

  • anterior to the transverse colon (antecolic-anterogastric)

  • posterior to the transverse colon (retrocolic-retrogastric)

The excluded gastric remnant remains attached to the duodenum and proximal jejunum, which make up the hepatobiliary limb (also known as the afferent limb).

The hepatobiliary limb and Roux limb anastomose in a Y-shaped configuration. 

Thus, there are two anastomoses: a proximal gastrojejunal anastomosis and a distal jejunojejunal anastomosis.

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After the bypass surgery, a CT scan should be undertaken with intravenous and oral contrast agents 9. Positive oral contrast is given just before the scan in order to differentiate the gastric pouch and Roux limb from unopacified stomach and biliopancreatic limb 9.

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Early complications of gastric bypass surgery include 3:

  • anastomotic narrowing/stenosis/stricture

    • the most common cause of postoperative nausea and vomiting

    • may require lateral or steep oblique views to visualize

    • rare at jejunojejunal anastomosis (0.9%)

    • etiology and management vary depending on the location 9

      • at gastrojejunal anastomosis: tends to be transitory, due to edema or spasm

      • at jejunojejunal anastomosis: tends to be a well-established stenosis, due to fibrosis or chronic ischemia (therefore, they may require surgery)

  • dumping syndrome

  • gastrogastric fistula (unintended communication between the gastric pouch and excluded gastric remnant)

  • ulceration

  • hemorrhage/hematoma

  • adhesions, potentially leading to small-bowel obstruction

  • internal hernia 2

    • ​higher rate of occurrence with a retrocolic approach

  • small bowel intussusception, retrograde much more often than antegrade 5-7

  • bezoar formation in the gastric pouch

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The Roux-en-Y is named after the Swiss surgeon César Roux (1857-1934), who was Chief of Surgery at the county hospital of Lausanne and following the opening of the new University of Lausanne, in 1890, was its inaugural Professor of External Pathology and Gynecology 4.

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