The Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Comprehensive Surgical Management of Adolescent Obesity pediatric surgeons perform the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, a less-invasive procedure known for its reliable results for improved health and
its greater success at achieving long-lasting weight loss.

The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass procedure combines restrictive and malabsorptive procedures and is the most popular technique, comprising 75 percent of bariatric surgical procedures done each year.

As shown in the graphic below, during the Roux-en-Y procedure, stapling is used to create a small, upper-stomach pouch that restricts the amount of food able to be consumed. A portion of the small bowel is bypassed, thus delaying food from mixing with digestive juices to avoid complete calorie absorption.

Results of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass procedure
An average of 77 percent of excess body weight loss has been noted one year after surgery. Studies have shown that health conditions associated with obesity were greatly improved or resolved, and that 10 years to 14 years after having the surgery, patients have maintained 60 percent of excess body weight loss.

Specific results of this surgery include:

• Up to 83 percent of patients see improvement of their diabetes
• Up to 90 percent of patients see improvement or cure of their high blood pressure
• Up to 80 percent of patients see improvement or cure of their sleep apnea
• Patients see a lessening of their gastric reflux symptoms

In most cases, patients report an early sense of fullness, combined with a sense of satisfaction that reduces the desire to eat.

Risks of surgery
All major surgery involves a certain level of risk. Your child's treatment team will discuss the risks of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery with you.