Question:
What is the Roux-en-y sugery

I've had gastric bypass and gained all the weight back I read about revision surgery. I need to loose my weight again my knees are really bad.    — bethsal (posted on May 21, 2009)

May 22, 2009
The Roux-en-Y is the same thing as the Gastric Bypass. It is the FANCY name for the procedure, and I think it came from France, but I am not certain. For you, there are likely TWO options for a revision. The first is to get the new Stomaphyx procedure. In this procedure, doctors basically put a fancy type of STAPLE in your pouch that pulls the walls of the stomach together, and makes the pouch smaller. This is done from INSIDE the stomach, and can now be performed as an OUTPATIENT surgery from what I understand. There is no cutting. The surgeon guides the tool INTO the pouch through the esophagus and performs the procedure that way. The down side to this procedure is that it is NEW and untested. There are probably NOT a lot of insurance companies that will cover it, so all of your expenses are likely going to be out of pocket. There is also no guarantee that it will WORK. Your BEST option is to get a revision to the Duodenal Switch, in MY opinion. The surgery is more invasive than the Stomaphyx procedure, but it has been PROVEN to be the most EFFECTIVE weight loss surgery currently known. The Duodenal Switch (DS) is where your stomach is converted to a little TUBE, the Gall Bladder is removed, and the intestines are switch in a way that is SIMILAR to the Gastric Bypass. The SWITCH part of the procedure is slightly different, in that the length of intestine that is switched is LONGER on the DS than it is in the Bypass. Your doctors are likely to have to sew the top part of your stomach BACK on to the bottom part, and THEN create the SLEEVE, or TUBE to do this procedure, but it IS possible. They will also have to remove your Gall Bladder if you still have one, and possibly lengthen the switched intestine. You have all of the same issues with this procedure that you do with the Gastric Bypass, such as needing supplements for the rest of your life, blood work, smelly stools and gas, and Dumping Syndrome. This too, is considered an "Experimental" procedure by many insurance companies, but it can often be paid for if the surgeon strongly states that it is the ONLY procedure that will do the job. I hope this helps. Hugh
   — hubarlow