[Biliary-intestinal bypass in the treatment of severe obesity: personal experience with 23 patients].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of biliary-intestinal bypass in severely obese subjects (Body Mass Index > 35).


METHODS
From January to December 1999, 23 patients (8 men and 15 women, mean age 36.6 years: range 20-51) affected with primary morbid obesity (BMI >40: range 40.1-64.7), in whom different attempt using conservative medicine have proved non-resolutive, underwent biliary-intestinal bypass. After the operation all the patients have been followed- up for 12 months.


RESULTS
The mean Body Mass Index was reduced to 36.9 (range 27.7-44.1) after 6 months and to 33 (range 24.9-40.1) after 12 months. Peri and postoperative mortality was zero. Excessive malabsorption was efficaciously controlled by adequate replacement therapy. Diarrhoea, common compliance of every operation inducin malabsorbition, was reduced to 2-3 evacuation a day after 2-3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of personal experience it is underlined that biliary-intestinal bypass, as surgical treatment of morbid obesity refractory to medical therapy, is today a safe and effective operation (up to 80% of excess body weight lose); the presence of biliary-intestinal anastomosis reduces the post-operative loss of bile acids, choleretic diarrhoea and electrolytic disorders.
Galati
G
G
I Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Dipartimento di Clinica Chirurgica P. Valdoni, Università degli Studi La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Izzo
L
L
Binda
B
B
De Cesare
A
A
Fiori
E
E
Bononi
M
M
Masoni
L
L
Badiali
M
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000601:surgery; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index