Gastric bypass surgeries or gastric bypass procedures divide the stomach into two compartments or pouches: a small upper portion and a much larger lower portion that is not used in digestion. These procedures then rearrange the small intestine to connect to both stomachs (Adams et al
More late appearing symptoms such as myelopathy, myopathy, and peripheral neuropathies can be associated with certain B, E, and mineral deficiencies. Optic neuropathy can be associated with mineral and vitamin B12 deficiencies and have been reported to be present one to three years following bariatric surgery (Becker et al
(2008) indicated that up to 15% of patients experienced some complications as a result of gastric bypass surgeries. A malabsorption syndrome is one of a number of conditions whereby the nutrients from food eaten are not absorbed adequately into the small intestine (DeMaria, 2007)
This small amount of food that can be taken and following the surgery significantly reduces food intake and ingested food bypasses most of the stomach, the duodenum (this is the first part of the small intestine), and a small portion of the jenunum (second part of the small intestine). The bypass results in mild protein and fat malabsorption because there is a slight delay in the mixing of ingested food with pancreatic enzymes and bile (Tice, Karliner, & Walsh, 2008)