Question:
What is the difference between a "proximal" and "distal" RNY?

What do the terms "proximal" and "distal" mean in reference to RNY?    — jen slimmer (posted on December 14, 2005)

December 14, 2005
Well, in medical terms, "proximal" means "nearer", and "distal" means "farther away" .. so I'd guess it has to do with how much is bypassed. I am sure someone else can clarify.
   — Jeanie

December 14, 2005
Yep this is exactly correct!
   — Deborah Joyner

December 16, 2005
It is in reference to how much of your intestine is bypassed. Proximal is less and I think it is most widely used. Distal is generally reserved for people with higher bmi's and needing more aggressive weightloss options. (Or that's how my surgeon explained it to me). Also, distal can tend to have more issue with malabsorbtion/malnutrition because more of the asborption part of your intenstine is removed.
   — Rachelq