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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Operation in Rats
Published on: June 11, 2012
The effect of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on fibromyalgia
Alan A Saber1, Michael J Boros, Tara Mancl
1Department of Surgery, Michigan State University/Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, 1000 Oakland Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA. saber@kcms.msu.edu
Background:
Fibromyalgia is a chronic debilitating disorder affecting 3-5% of the US population. Treatment of this disorder is a challenge. The incidental finding of improvement of fibromyalgia following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass stimulated us to study this phenomenon.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review of patients with fibromyalgia who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
Results:
Postoperative decrease in median of BMI from 49.4 to 29.7 was significant (p value = 0.0010). This was associated with statistically significant improvement in median of pain score (p value = 0.0010) and median points of tenderness (p value = 0.0010).
Conclusion:
Significant weight loss following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is associated with resolution or improvement of fibromyalgia. Consequently, the bariatric surgeon should be a member of the multidisciplinary team approach for treating fibromyalgia.
