Study links gastric bypass surgery to increased risk of kid...( CHICAGO (June 26 2008) Morbidly obe...),Health

CHICAGO (June 26, 2008) Morbidly obese patients who undergo a particular type of gastric bypass surgery called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) are at an increased risk of developing kidney stones small, pebble-like deposits that can result in severe pain and require an operation to remove them earlier than previously thought. These stones develop in patients within only a few months following the procedure rather than several months to years, according to research published in the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

"Our data suggests that RYGB is associated with an increased risk of forming kidney stones as early as three months post-operation," according to the study's lead investigator, Manoj Monga, MD, FACS, Professor of Urologic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. "We hope our findings and subsequent research will eventually allow clinicians to more accurately counsel patients on their individual risk of kidney stones and develop strategies for the prevention of this sometimes painful condition, such as dietary modification and medical therapy."

RYGB is the most commonly performed surgical intervention for morbid obesity. During the procedure, a small pouch is created by stapling part of the stomach together or by banding the stomach, limiting the amount of food a patient can eat. Next, a Y-shaped section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch to allow food to bypass the first part of the intestines. This process causes reduced calorie and nutrient absorption. Although RYGB is a safe and effective treatment for morbid obesity, nephrolithiasis (the formation of kidney stones) has recently raised concerns among patients undergoing RYGB.

"Although this study demonstrates that there is a higher risk for developing kidney stones, it is important to weigh the risk against the many benefits that RYGB has for the morbidly obese patient, including decreasing cardiac morbidity
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