Liver failure due to gastric bypass

GASTRIC BYPASS & LIVER FAILURE: HOW GREAT A RISK?
More than 100,000 overweight and obese individuals are estimated to have undergone gastric bypass or another weight-reduction surgery within the last year. But are they taking their own lives into their hands? In addition to the other side effects commonly associated with the surgery, which include the risk of pulmonary embolism, gastrointestinal leaks, bowel obstruction, the formation of stricture, the formation of stomach ulcers, abdominal bleeding, pneumonia, the formation of gallstones and abdominal hernias, there may well be a link between liver failure and gastric bypass patients.

According to several reports, there have been numerous cases of reported elevated liver enzymes after gastric bypass. This is a severe side effect that can take as long as a decade after the surgery to show up, and can cause damage to the immune system and, yes, liver failure. This was more common during the 1960s and 1970s, when doctors performed a procedure known as jejunoileal or intestinal bypass surgery, an operation which ultimately resulted in liver-related fatalities for more than 90 people. Intestinal bypass surgery has since been abandoned. However, liver failure is still a risk today with gastric bypass surgery and other current weight-reduction procedures.

What exactly is liver failure? Liver failure, the stage of cirrhosis of the liver at which brain functions are first affected, is a disease that involves irreversible scarring of the organ. The most common causes are alcohol, viral hepatitis, and the presence of a toxic amount of acetaminophen in the blood stream, although there are many other causes, including a possible spike in enzyme levels resulting from gastric bypass surgery. Symptoms include jaundice, itching, fatigue, and coagulation failure. If not addressed, the condition could lead to internal bleeding, kidney failure, a coma or even death. Cirrhosis is treatable if detected early enough, though in some cases, a transplant is required.

Certainly, each individual patient will need to assess the risk-reward ratio for him or herself. Gastric bypass has been a successful procedure for many people, including celebrities such as Randy Jackson and Carney Wilson. However, there are numerous risks involved, including the potential of elevated liver enzymes leading to possible cirrhosis of the liver and/or liver failure. Know the risks going in, know the possible alternatives and consult your doctor before committing to gastric bypass or any other weight reduction surgery.