Roux-en-Y surgery is a very effective weight loss procedure, and the one most commonly performed in the United States.
Using a surgical stapler device, the surgeon creates a new, smaller stomach pouch in the upper stomach. The remainder of the stomach is bypassed and can no longer receive food, which limits the amount of food that can be consumed at one time.
Next, a Y-shaped section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch to allow food to bypass the duodenum as well as the first portion of the jejunum intestine. This opening is called the stoma. Bypassing the intestines in this manner reduces the absorption of calories and nutrients.
In most cases, Roux-en-Y Surgery is performed laparoscopically.
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