Question:
Can someone please help me translate?

Hello everyone. Here I am 10 months out and finally have my operative report, I know, shame on me. I was wondering if someone could help me understand what this says? I would really appreciate your help. Okay, here it goes. It was a Long Limb Gastric Bypass. "...the stomach was divided sequentially to create a tubler 15ML obliquely shaped gastric pouch along the lesser curve (So, how big was the pouch?)The small bowel was then mobilized. The ligament of Treitz was identified. The bowel was counted 50CM distally, divided. The biliary limb was marked with a short suture. The distal limb was brought retrocolic, retrogastric. A side-to-side gastrojejunal anastomosis was fashioned by stapling the side of the pouch to the side of the jejunum using a linear stapler advanced to 3CM. The open end was reapproximated with two layers of sutures after an endoscope was passed and tested. It was intact. There was no leakage. The bowel was reduced, tacked in its retrocolic location and a side-to-side small bowel anastomosis was performed at 150CM distally in a side-to-side fashion using 60 white load staplers advanced. The open end was reapproximated and closed without narrowing the bowel. An antiobstruction stitch was placed and the mesentric defect was closed in a running fashion..." I see the word "distally" a few times, is that a good thing? Am I transected? How big is my pouch? How long is my common channel(limb?)? They should give you a translated sheet along with the original! LOL... I thank anyone who can give me some insight. Thanks again! Kim K    — Kim K. (posted on February 2, 2004)

February 2, 2004
you have a transected pouch. 150cm of you intestines were bypassed meaning you are distal(less food is absorbed in your intestines). and your pouch is about 2oz.
   — franbvan

February 2, 2004
I get a slightly different version. 15 ml = 15 cc, I think and that's 1/2 oz, which is what I had. Never heard it measured in ml before. How much detail do you want? By definition, a distal is measured from the "distant" end away from the stomach, the colon and common channel is the measurement achieved. By definition, a proximal is measured from the proximal (close to stomach) end, the top. So, since you have top measurements, it is a proximal by definition and no common channel is given. HOWEVER, within the proximal "family" many docs divide what they offer into proximal, medial and distal VERSIONS of it. Same with the distal "family". My doc offers a variety of distals. Mine is the very distal, distal, and is measured by common channel. You have the more distal of the proximals your doc does, measure by amount bypassed. Too much detail?
   — vitalady

February 2, 2004
I am a nurse and Michelle is right, Fran is not. (sorry). A 15ml pouch is 1/2 ounce. it takes 30ml or 30cc's to make one ounce.
   — Delores S.

February 3, 2004
Kim, I so agree with you that they should offer a translation sheet. I feel the same way about lab work and trying to compare the readings and what they mean. Medical stuff is not easy for the laypersons. I would suggest, though that you take the report to your surgeon at your one year checkup and go thru your questions with him/her. Pin them down and ask specifics and ensure they give you answers in non-medical jargon...
   — Cindy R.