Question:
150 cm bypassed

Hi Everyone: I know this question has been asked before, but please bear with me. I had lap rny in August. The surgeon said that he always bypasses 150 cm of intestine. Is this proximal, medial, or distal? Please explain what this means in terms of weight loss, malabsorption, etc. Thanks for your help. Love Grace    — Grace H. (posted on January 27, 2003)

January 26, 2003
Hi Grace, All I can tell you is that I too had 150cm by-passed. My surgeon called it a long-limbed bypass. I'm assuming this is the same as median. In terms of weight loss, it's all relative. Depends on the person, how much weight there was to lose in the first place and how you handle your "tool". I have lost 112lbs in 9 1/2 months and am really pleased! (I'm 5'1" tall and started out at 276lbs. I'm now 164.) Good luck to you!
   — Leah H.

January 27, 2003
Well, it depends on who you ask. I believe the term "medial" was invented by us, as surgeons used to only refer to proximal or distal. I'm also 150 cm bypassed, and I think the term medial is just perfect for that amount. As for weight loss, etc., I had open RNY 8/99, went from 306 to 155, and I'm still losing, albeit slowly. All that "window of opportunity" means is that short time immediately post-op when the pounds just melt off you, no real work involved, but it DOESN'T necessaily mean the weight loss just stops. It just means that your body has adjusted to the smaller amount of food, so now you have to use the tool, not abuse it. Get the picture? :))
   — Leslie F.

January 27, 2003
We have approx. 600 cm of intestine. If 150 cm is bypassed that is only 25%. If we are using the stomach as point of origin (which I'm assuming we are) than 150 cm would be proximal or proximate to the stomach. In my opinion (as slight as that should be taken) medial would be middle or closer to 300 cm bypassed and distal would be more distant or greater than 300 cm. I know the roux limb which is the connection between the bypassed intestine and the repositioned intestion is factored in as well. I've never really found a straight answer on that. I did do a lot of research on it before surgery (almost 2 yrs ago..so keep that in mind) but this was the conclusion I came to. I also have 150 cm bypassed. I had surgery on 7/17/01 and have gone from 282 lbs to 133. I'm very pleased with the type of surgery I had, whatever it's called. -Kim open RNY 7/17/01 -149lbs
   — KimBo36

January 27, 2003
actualy medial (or mesial) breaks down to medi or mesi both meaning toward the middle...the actual medical definition of medial is toward the middle of the body (the body being the point of reference) it is opsite lateral wich breaks down to later meaning side..soit means to the side of the body (again the BODY being the point of reference) so to use the term medial in regard to a bypass does NOT mean medium (or inbetween distal or proximal) the other poster is correct in that that term has been used in hereto describe a bypass that is inbetween proximal and distal but it is NOT correct mecdical term...now proximal breaks down to proxim wich mean nearest the actual definition is toward thje body trunk or the oringin of a body limb..atery nerve ext...in or case the body part would bethe original end postion of the intestines were it meets the stomach...(or the stomach) so if you say proximal to the stomach ..then it is nearest to the stomach...distal breaks down to dist wich means to be distant the actual definition is away from the body trunk or the origin of a body limb...so does that help? bekka
   — bekka K.