Bariatric Surgery Risks

Abdominal hernia
Chest pain
Collapsed lung
Constipation or diarrhea
Dehydration
Enlarged heart
Gallstones, pain from passing a gallstone, inflammation of the gallbladder, or surgery to remove the gallbladder
Gastrointestinal inflammation or swelling
Stoma obstruction
Stretching of the stomach
Surgical procedure repeated
Vomiting and nausea

Note: Your weight, age and medical history play a significant role in determining your specific risks. Your surgeon can inform you about your specific weight loss surgery risks.

Risks Associated with Abdominal Surgery

Bleeding
Pain
Shoulder pain
Pneumonia
Complications due to anesthesia and medications
Deep vein thrombosis
Injury to stomach, esophagus, or surrounding organs
Infection
Pulmonary embolism
Stroke or heart attack
Death

Note: Risks are associated with any type of surgery, including abdominal surgery. These risks are greater for individuals who suffer from obesity.

Mortality rates

According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery 2004 Consensus Statement, the gastric bypass complication rate in the hands of a skilled surgeon is roughly 5%, and the operative mortality (death) rate is roughly 0.5%.²¹

Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery Risks and Complications

As with any surgical procedure, there are potential risks and complications that can occur with sleeve gastrectomy. We’re committed to providing you with the information you need to make a well-informed decision about your surgery. Although these problems rarely occur, we want you to know the facts.

Potentially serious complications

Surgical:

Perforation of stomach/intestine or leakage, causing peritonitis or abscess
Internal bleeding requiring transfusion
Severe wound infection, opening of the wound, incisional hernia
Spleen injury requiring removal/other organ injury
Gastric outlet or bowel obstruction

Pulmonary:

Pneumonia, atelectasis (collapse of lung tissue), fluid in chest
Respiratory insufficiency, pulmonary edema (fluid in lungs)
Blood clots in legs/lungs (embolism)

Cardiovascular:

Myocardial infarction (heart attack), congestive heart failure
Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)
Stroke (cerebrovascular accident)

Kidney and liver:

Acute kidney failure
Liver failure
Hepatitis (may progress to cirrhosis)

Psychosocial:

Anorexia nervosa, bulimia
Postoperative depression, dysfunctional social problems
Psychosis
Death

Other complications (may become serious):

Minor wound or skin infection/scarring, deformity, loose skin
Urinary tract infection
Allergic reactions to drugs or medications
Vomiting or nausea/inability to eat certain foods/improper eating
Inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis), acid reflux (heartburn)
Low sodium, potassium, or blood sugar; low blood pressure
Problems with the outlet of the stomach (narrowing or stretching)
Anemia, metabolic deficiency (iron, vitamins, minerals), temporary hair loss
Constipation, diarrhea, bloating, cramping, malodorous stool or gas
Development of gallstones or gallbladder disease
Stomach or outlet ulcers (peptic ulcer)
Staple-line disruption, weight gain, failure to lose satisfactory weight
Intolerance to refined sugars (dumping), with nausea, sweating, weakness