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Gastric ByPass and Vision Loss
The number of bariatric surgeries performed each
year has sky rocketed in the United States. Some
estimates have noted that in 1993, 14,000 surgeries
were performed and in 2004 that number grew to
140,000. This increase also includes an increase
in vitamin deficiency among patients that then
leads to an increase in vision loss. The study
focused on patients who had been diagnosed with
vitamin A deficiency.
Vitamin A is needed to maintain healthy tissues
and functions of the eye. Blindness or poor eyesight
is one of the first symptoms of Vitamin A deficiency.
Prior to this study, it had primarily been seen
in children with malnutrition. The researchers
who performed this study at Baylor College of
Medicine in Houston noted that Vitamin A deficiency
is absorbed through the small intestine. Each
of the patients in the study had taken Vitamin
A supplements but still maintain poor eyesight.
Two of the patients received injections of Vitamin
A supplements and saw improvements in their eyesight
within days.
Vitamin A deficiency is not the only side effect
noted in patients with gastric bypass. This is
because gastric bypass bypasses the section of
small bowel in which most vitamins are digested
and absorbed such as Calcium, Vitamin B12, Vitamin
E, Vitamin D, Selenium, Thiamin, and Iron.
For more information regarding the effects of
vitamin deficiency and other potential ill side
effects of gastric bypass contact our office regarding
an in office presentation. Other services that
we can include are the following;
Medical Record Review: Review of a client’s
medical history prior to surgical procedure, review
of reported ill effects in relation to surgical
procedure.
Medical Research Review: Research of
gastric bypass procedure and side effects noted.
Standard of Care Review: Identification
of applicable standards of care for patients who
undergo gastric bypass, including identification
of appropriate use of surgical intervention. Identification
of post procedure standards of care.
Expert Witness Identification and Location
Medical Chronology Report
References
Vitamin Deficiency in gastric bypass/duodenal
switch-BPD. Retrieved July 2006 from http://gastricbypass.netfirms.com/vitamins.htm.
Gastric bypass can cause deficiency of Vitamin
A. Retrieved June 2006 from http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=1196.
Chase, Teresa and Foroozan, Rod. Vitamin A deficiency
in patients with a remote history of intestinal
surgery. Retrieved June 2006 from http://bjo.bmjournals.com/cgi/content/
Viril, Ayaz and Murr, Michel. Caring for Patient
after Bariatric Surgery. American Family Physician.
2006; 73:8.
For more information on this issue please
see Contact Us
and see how our services can work for you.
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