There are various forms of weight loss surgery. However, one in particular raises a substantial risk for a complication when a woman presents for routine pregnancy.
A gastric bypass can be performed open (laparotomy) and minimally invasive, in a laparoscopic procedure. In the past, almost 70% of woman undergoing a gastric bypass were of child bearing age. Today, those very women are presenting to the hospital for pregnancy, only to learn their prior weight loss surgery raises a substantial risk of developing a complication.
Women who have undergone bariatric surgery are now at risk for developing a bowel obstruction in the area of the abdomen where weight loss surgery was performed. This is a potentially devastating complication because the obstetrician is either unaware of a prior weight loss procedure, or is not competent in knowing the risk presented to a woman who had a gastric bypass procedure. In either event the result could be devastating for the mother and child.
Here at Gill and Chamas, we are on the cutting edge of investigating claims as they relate to complications at birth as a result of prior surgery. Contact us today for a free consultation.
