More than one in three Americans today are considered obese, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control. That expansion has naturally driven growth in weight loss surgeries, most notably bariatric surgeries, which are performed nearly 200,000 times a year – more than twice as frequently as just five years ago. The most popular bariatric procedures include:
- Gastric sleeve – These operations make up a little more than half of all bariatric procedures. Essentially, it reduces the stomach to less than 20 percent of its original size through surgical removal. Patients typically lose about 60 percent of their excess weight.
- Gastric bypass – These surgeries make up nearly a quarter of all bariatric operations. The bypass splits the stomach into two pouches and reconnects the small intestine to both. Bypass patients drop about 70 percent of their excess weight.
- Gastric banding – This procedure comprises 5 percent of bariatric procedures and installs a lap-band around the top part of the stomach in an effort to slow food intake. These patients generally shed about half of their excess weight.
- Duodenal switch surgery – This more dramatic, and more rarely used, bariatric alternative is a hybrid of the gastric bypass and gastric sleeve, and involves a stapling of roughly 70 percent of the stomach. Successful patients lose anywhere from 70 percent to 80 percent of excess weight.
If a bariatric procedure left you seriously injured, do not wait to reach out to the medical malpractice lawyers at Burg Simpson in Arizona by calling 602-777-7000 or by filling one of our Free Case Evaluation form today.
Despite how commonplace these operations have become, they are still invasive surgical procedures that carry with them the same complications as any other operation. The most common problems that arise include:
- Bleeding
- Tachycardia
- Infections
- Gastric fluid leak
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Pulmonary embolisms
Longer term effects of gastric bypass surgery include:
- Hypoglycemia
- Dumping Syndrome
- Gallstones
- Incontinence
- Nutritional deficiencies
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured because of a botched bariatric surgery, contact a medical injury lawyer at Burg Simpson Arizona today by calling 602-777-7000.
Our Medical Negligence Lawyers in Phoenix Can Help
Weight-loss surgeries are more popular than ever and this increased demand has spawned a market for less scrupulous or less experienced medical professionals who avoid the standards of the profession to operate on desperate, overweight people. Let us help you if you have fallen victim to a negligent medical professional and have been injured as a result of gastric bypass surgery. Speak to Burg Simpson right away by completing our Free Case Evaluation Form or call our Arizona office at 602-777-7000.
