Influence of jejunoileal and common limb length on weight loss following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
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.
Savassi-Rocha
Alexandre Lages
AL
Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. alexandresavassi@hotmail.com
Diniz
Marco Túlio Costa
MT
Savassi-Rocha
Paulo Roberto
PR
Ferreira
Jander Toledo
JT
Rodrigues de Almeida Sanches
Soraya
S
Diniz
Maria de Fátima Haueisen Sander
Mde F
Gomes de Barros
Henrique
H
Fonseca
Inara Kellen
IK
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