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