Dumping Syndrome in Roux-en-Y Bariatric Surgery Patients: Are They Prepared?

The incidence of many obesity-related comorbid conditions is reduced following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The question is whether new, unanticipated morbidity issues will surface. Dumping syndrome is a complication of RYGB with reports of 50% to 75% of patients experiencing dumping following this particular surgery. Some patients may experience variable degrees of dumping at least through the first 12 to 18 months. This article will briefly discuss the results of a study conducted to find out the extent to which patients felt they were informed preoperatively about dumping syndrome following RYGB. A survey was used to collect information from 556 former RYGB patients who were members of ObesityHelp.com (OH), an online support website for individuals suffering from obesity and its related illnesses. These former patients from across the United States felt more emphasis should be placed on the areas of sleepiness, fatigue, and heart attack-like symptoms brought on by dumping syndrome. Patients wanted more information on what was happening to the body during a dumping episode. Findings suggest that program providers at surgical weight loss centers may encounter patients who report experiencing side effects not commonly covered in their educational venue and therefore may wish to explore offering more details about dumping syndrome.