Gastric Bypass

Trauma Columnist · May 31, 2004

Maybe some kind of dye to ensure the NGT is in the right place? Just a guess.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 1, 2004

Usually methylene blue. It is used to make sure that there are no leaks with any of the surgical reconnections.

:balloons:

Nursinrox · Jun 1, 2004

My guess would be the dye used s/p gastrographin study (Radiology procedure) usually done within 24-48 hours post-op G-Bypass. Or days out to R/O any leaking or anastamosis.

rntg · Jun 2, 2004

Does anyone know what the blue drainage if from following a bypass, I have ssen it come out the ng tube?

We have not seen this at our facility, but it sure isn't a bad idea. We seem to be having too many complications with this surgery. More bad than good lately. How are your hospitals handling this procedure, and how are your outcomes? I don't know about you, but lately I am scared to death to care for these patients, afraid they might go bad, and when they do go bad, they do so in a hurry.

dansamy · Jun 2, 2004

We has one day not too long ago. 4 months in & out of hospital post-surgery. Pt had some kind of leak that the dr didn't go back in & close up.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jun 4, 2004

It is a dye to check on placement of tube. My personal experience with this surgery is there is no good outcome. These patients are having a life changing procedure and do not realize how much of a change it is. I have only had one patient do well out of about 20. She was a former nurse who had been disabled and ate herself into obesity d/t depression. She is losing weight and doing her exercise but she says she wishes now she would have had therapy and weight watchers.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 5, 2004

If you have only seen one fair outcome from 20 different patients then who ever is doing your procedures needs to change what they are doing or stop.

I can think of five people that I know personally that have had this procedure done and they are all doing great. Tolerated the procedure without any problems, home in just a feew days, and able to return to a normal life, just now with much smaller clothes being worn.

The number of problem patients that I have seen has decreased tremendously over the past few years. Sure you are going to get the patient that doesn't tolerate this, but when there is a leak at an anatamosis, that is surgical error, not a fault of the patient's.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jun 6, 2004

Yes, Suzanne, I agree that this doctor needed to change the way he did this procedure. But the facility only saw the bucks.

laurakoko · Jun 6, 2004

I work in a facility where gastric bypasses are on a rampage. The population now are thinner and happier! Our population of gastric bypass patients has grown tremendously! The "blue dye" test, is a test that the patients, with the MD, will perform to ensure that the anastamosis from the pouch of the stomach is connected to the small bowel, to make sure there is no preforation, or leak. If the blue dye leaks, (into the peritoneum), the patient must go back to surgery to reconnect the stomach to the bowel. It is a simple test for the patient benefit. (It is done hours, up to post op day #1). I personally think there is much knowlegde to be learned about the long term effects of the bypass surgery, but so far, I have seen incredible outcomes from the procedures. I have recently become certified in the care of the morbidly obese patient, and have realized all the elements involved. I have heard testimonies of lots of patients, that have had bypass surgery (with or without complications), and very few are negative. Now, the surgeons, and nurses, have effectively taken the necessary steps to ensure fewer complications, and patients have done extremely well with the procedure. It seems to be another field of nursing. If patients are taken care of properly, and the surgeons are experienced, the patients will be psychologically and medically benefited. But there is still much to be learned................

alli · Jun 25, 2004

I work in Gen Surg and we take care of gastric bypass patients. It is unsettling to see so many of them return with complications, most commonly abd.pain, n/v, dehydration, infection... They are always coming in and out of the hospital. Of course there are the ones that come in and have a normanl post op recovery but I'd say I see a good number of them return.

The doc that performs this surgery is hoping to do it as a day surgery in the near future!

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jun 28, 2004

From my experience with gastric bypass patients, I do not see how this could be done on an outpatient basis or even short stay(23 hours). As I stated in a previous post, some of these patients do not realize how much this surgery changes their life and the life of the family/significant other. I really think an intensive preop counselling program encompassing diet, pain control, activity, body image, sexual issues, and so much more needs to be completed before this surgery is done. Being thin is nice, wish I was, but I do not think I would ever consider having this procedure. I think I would have my jaws wired shut first. LOL. Hubby could really have the last word then. :chuckle