The laparoscopic RY gastric bypass is a minimal invasive surgery. This is performed by introducing a laparoscope, which is connected to a video camera, through small abdominal incisions. The surgery is performed “inside” the abdomen after gas has been inserted to expand it. Special stapling instruments are used to separate about 5% of the stomach to create a new small Gastric Pouch. The remaining 95% of the stomach (Excluded Stomach) is not removed. It continues to produce digestive juices and some essential factors.

The outlet from this newly formed Gastric Pouch is connected to the small intestine (Roux limb) so that food empties directly into the lower portion of the intestine (Small Intestine Common Channel) bypassing the stomach. Digestive juices produced by the stomach, pancreas, gall bladder and duodenum are directed by the Billio-Pancreatic Limb back into the common channel in a “Y” shape hookup that gives the technique its name (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass). The small Gastric Pouch causes patients to feel full sooner and eat less (restriction); bypassing a portion of the intestine means the patient’s body absorbs fewer calories (malabsorption).