title: Influence of jejunoileal and common limb length on weight loss following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Capella surgery is one of the technical variations of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The method includes the preparation of an alimentary (Roux) limb with a standardized length (110 cm) in order to induce deficiencies in the absorption of macronutrients and thereby contribute to weight loss. The recognized variation in jejunoileal length in humans (approximately 4 to 9 m) is not considered, although this range correlates with the wide variation in the length of the common limb.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to assess the influence of variations in jejunoileal and common limb lengths on weight loss, intra-operative measurements were made of these segments on 100 patients undergoing Capella surgery. Patients were followed for a period of 1 year. Statistical analysis included subdivisions of the population by gender and body mass index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average jejunoileal length was 671.4 +/- 115.7 cm (434-990 cm). Average common limb length was 505.3 +/- 113.3 cm (268-829 cm). No correlation was detected between jejunoileal length and weight loss at 6 months or 1 year following surgery. A weak negative correlation was detected between weight loss and common limb length at 1 year following surgery in male and super-obese patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Jejunoileal and common limb length vary widely in gastric bypass patients. To make modifications in the alimentary and/or biliopancreatic limb length, surgeons must consider the variability of the jejunoileal and common limb length.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. alexandresavassi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Alexandre Lages
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Savassi-Rocha
authors.forename: Marco Túlio Costa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Savassi-Rocha
authors.forename: Jander Toledo
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodrigues de Almeida Sanches
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima Haueisen Sander
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gomes de Barros
authors.forename: Inara Kellen
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Fonseca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss