There are many causes of gastric bypass surgery, including obesity and a defective valve or level of esophageal contractions. However, not all patients with obesity qualify for this treatment. The age of the patient and the risk of complications from surgery make the procedure a more complicated procedure than it was in the past. It’s important that you discuss your condition and the possible benefits and risks with your doctor to determine if bypass surgery is right for you.
Appendicitis is probably the most frequent cause of surgery for individuals under 50. In America, it accounts for 250,000 annual cases and approximately 1 million admissions for hospitalization. The number of people experiencing appendicitis who are admitted to a hospital has increased over the past ten years. While the reasons for hospital admissions has risen, the number of patients who have opted to have the procedure performed at a clinic instead of a hospital has declined.
Reasons for hospitalizations vary greatly. While nearly one in five patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery has a psychiatric condition, the number of patients with diseases other than diabetes, cardiac problems, asthma, and pulmonary disease has remained steady. The number of patients undergoing cancellations due to diabetes has also been on the decline, while those who have had cardiac-related surgeries have seen a slight increase. Patients with asthma, cancer, or other conditions now account for a smaller portion of surgery volume.
Obesity causes a myriad of different conditions that must be treated. Because of this, the typical age of surgical patients is now closer to the average age of 65 years old. Some of the main causes of gastric-bypass surgeries are age related: as people get older, they become more likely to suffer from both chronic and intermittent digestive problems, which can lead to unnecessary surgery.
As surgical patients age, they tend to have more complications, such as strictures and infections. This often leads physicians to perform “strictures-less” procedures in order to prevent more complications later on. The number of patients who experience complications later on is often unrelated to their surgical age. In addition, the number of patients who follow-up surgical procedures has also been on the decline.
The current study adds to the evidence that the reasons for fewer gastric bypass surgeries are less about diet and more about lifestyle and symptom management. Although it is still important to closely monitor and track patients, especially those who have more complex conditions like diabetes, it is clear that doctors and patients are working together to address the growing problem of overweight and obesity in the United States. The results of the current study are only one of the many reasons that patients are choosing to lose weight and keep it off.
