Both complications and mortality are uncommon in this surgery when is carried out by skilled specialists with proven experience in specialized-hospital units with multidisciplinary teams. The development and implementation of laparoscopic procedures has minimized the surgical aggression to the patient, reducing postoperative pain and complications as well as shortening the hospital stay. All this conditions result in costs reduction of the process.
The risks inherent to these procedures are discussed in detail with patients during the clinical interview in the office and are also in the model of Informed Consent fulfilled and signed by every patient before surgery.
- Postoperative surgical mortality rate (30 postoperative days) of theese interventions when they are performed in specialized units is around 0.2%, similar to the rate after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removal of gallbladder).
- The accepted risk of overall mortality is less than 1% (collecting cases of low and high risk together).
- The risk of severe complications (leakage and / or peritonitis) is 0.5-1% depending on the technique, and the risk of minor complications (wound infection, urinary tract infection, respiratory …) is around 5%.
Complications
Potentially serious complications are: perforation or leakage of the stomach and / or intestine, causing peritonitis and abscesses, internal bleeding, injury to internal organs, outlet obstruction reservoir.
- Pulmonary complications: pneumonia, atelectasis, embolisms, etc.
- Cardiovascular complications: heart attacks, arrhythmias, stroke, etc.
- Hepatorenal (failure, hepatitis, cirrhosis, …), psychosocial problems, etc.
- Minor complications: wound infection, hernia of abdominal wall, scar deformity of the skin, urinary tract infection, allergic reactions, nausea or vomiting, esophagitis, low electrolyte levels or blood sugar, lowering blood pressure, narrowing or dilation of the stoma – union gastric pouch to the intestine, anemia, temporary hair loss, constipation or diarrhea, gallstones, stomach or intestine ulcers, insufficient weight loss, intolerance due to refined sugars rapid absorption, etc.
Usually patient is admitted to Hospital the same day of surgery.
The intervention is usually uneventful and the postoperative elapses normally in an individual and modern furnished room under intensive medical and nursery care.
During the stay the patient wears pneumatic stockings and intensive respiratory physioterapy is mandatory.
The patient is discharged 48h after continuing thromboprophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin, gastric protection with PPIs and dietary recommendations for home care until later revisions.
No ICU stay is usually needed.