title: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity: a feasibility study in pigs.
abstract: According to randomized prospective studies in humans, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass provides more effective weight loss than vertical banded gastroplasty for morbid obesity. Ten pigs underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass to assess the feasibility of this procedure with conventional laparoscopic techniques and instruments. The procedure took an average of 4 h 20 min. Of the first five pigs killed immediately, four had correct anastomoses. Of the five remaining pigs with postoperative follow-up, three survived with an intact anastomosis and staple line at autopsy. Two died within 48 h, one from peritonitis (perforation of the small bowel), the other from unknown causes. A definite learning curve exists for this procedure primarily because of the extent of gastrointestinal reconstruction, but there is potential for it to be used in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hotel-Dieu de Montreal, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Potvin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gagner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pomp
mesh_terms: D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D013552:Swine