Question:
What does all of this WLS medical jargon mean?

I've recently obtained a copy of my Operative Report from my WLS (Proximal LAP RNY) on September 3, 2002. I'd like to share a few 'excerpts' and wanting to know if anyone could tell me, specifically, what this medical jargon means. I'm pretty much knowledgeable of medical terminology, but not in the area of Bariatrics or anything having to do with the GI (Gastrointestinal) tract. Okay, here goes: "Additional fires of the endo-GIA 45 blue load was then used to create a vertical pouch. Hemostasis was then obtained with several hemoclips along the suture line. A measurement was then made 40cm distally....A measurement was then made an additional 60 cm distally for a total of 100-cm bypass....distal sutured to the proximal jejunum...side-to-side anastomosis...A #7 French Jackson-Pratt drain was then placed next to the anastomotic line in lesser sac and brought out through a 5-mm trocar incision." There is more, but I just wanted to put this out to see what's up. Now, just reading through it, the only reason I can tell that I'm proximal is because I was TOLD I was proximal. When I see 'distal this or lengthened again distally for a total of', in my head, I could be distal. How can you tell for sure? Finally, the exact procedure performed (according to my report) was: Laparascopic, Roux-en-Y, 100cm, antecolic, gastric bypass with intraoperative esophagogastroscopy. What is all of that in PLAIN ENGLISH?Would any of this prevent me from having a revision once all other factors have been eliiminated? SOmeone might refer me to the Grad List, that's okay too, but I'd still like to know what the AMOS WLS/ObesityHelp.com community has to say about it. Thanks for your research and expertise! 9/3/2002 5'2" 265/176/126-115; Hadiyah McCutcheon,a.k.a.~~ .    — yourdivaness (posted on November 18, 2005)

November 18, 2005
Additional fires of the endo-GIA 45 blue load was then used to create a vertical pouch....they used a stapler to make a pouch Hemostasis was then obtained with several hemoclips along the suture line...they made sure it didn't bleed A measurement was then made an additional 60 cm distally for a total of 100-cm bypass...they measured out the by-pass intestine distal sutured to the proximal jejunum....the bottom of the stomach was sutured to the top of the intestine side-to-side anastomosis....this is how they make the 'Y' A #7 French Jackson-Pratt drain was then placed next to the anastomotic line in lesser sac and brought out through a 5-mm trocar incision......this says that they ran your drain tube out of a hole that they poked in your tummy ......#7 is the size of the drain....Jackson-Pratt is the type of drain it was.....trocar incision is the hole that they made to look in your belly to do the lap procedure.... They are documenting step by step what they did.... hope this helps with the technical.... there are several movie clips that are out there.....I think one is at the "memorial city hospital web site' in houston...you can see the whole 45 min operation....you can see the stapler "fire"...it's more of a pressing down to me....see everything hope this helps Russ
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 18, 2005
Hi. I'm a PS. Honestly, the op report is a technical documentation of the steps the surgeon went through in the OR. He or another may need this info to deal with issues later. It is not meant to be for "general consumption" and often generates confusion when patients read them. Your questions are all legitimate, and your surgeon is the one who should "translate" what he did into understandable terms for you.
   — DrL

November 18, 2005
Howdy, I am a 4 yr post-op also I am currently attending college for radiology tech. I have had medical terminology but not an expert yet. I have also worked 16 yrs working in hospitals. measurement was then made 40cm distally....A measurement was then made an additional 60 cm distally for a total of 100-cm bypass....distal sutured to the proximal jejunum <~~~ This sentance means: Distally or Distal is Anitomical direction it means further away from the trunk of the body and Proximal means closer to the trunk of the body so in this sentance he is saying they made a measurement "probably the cut" one first of 40cm away from the trunk of the body and then another of 60cm for a measuement total of 100 cm Distaly "Away from the trunk" and that it is suture Proximally "Closer to the trunk" to the Jejunum. The Jejunum is part of your intestine. Basically what they are saying is they cut out 100 cm of the first part of your intestine the duodenum. and attatched it to the rest of your intestine the jejunum. Now if I am correct 100 cm is considered a distal bypass. But take that with a grain of salt because im not 100% possitive. Hope this helps. Your WLS Friend Jo Michalko
   — Jo_Michalko

November 20, 2005
I was told that under 150 cm in concidered proximal and over 150cm is distal. but then again I am a floral designer and have absolutely no knowledge of the inside of anything . lol
   — terri R.