Can the Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass and the adjustable gastric band procedure be done laparoscopically?
Yes. Although the Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass has historically been performed through a long incision in the midline of the upper abdomen, most patients meeting the requirements for gastric bypass can have the procedure performed laparoscopically. Laparoscopic surgery is a “minimally invasive” approach in which the operation is performed using long instruments and staplers placed through several small incisions at strategic locations on the abdominal wall. A long telescope attached to a video camera is used to view the procedure. The advantage of laparoscopic surgery is that although the operation on the inside of the abdomen is the same as if the procedure were done with the open technique, the injury to the abdominal wall is kept to a minimum. With small incisions, there is often less pain, a quicker recovery and a lower risk of hernia formation. For these reasons, the laparoscopic technique is the procedure preferred by most patients as well as the surgeons at our facility. However, so