Question:
How much intestine can be bypassed safely?

I have been researching many doctors who do RNY and have noticed the big difference in them is the length of intestine they bypass. This runs from none to 16 feet, leaving 4 feet attached. Each has good reasons for their prefered style. I am looking for a weight loss of 260 pounds and intend to have those pounds stay off for the rest of my life. Please share your knowledge with me.    — Susan S. (posted on May 5, 2001)

May 5, 2001
OK, I'd guess I'd be one you'd be talking to. I have a 40" common channel. Love it, would go for even less if it was up to me. I lost 150#, but it is still gone. From 262 to 112 or so. I don't fight to stay here, but I do work at it. It's just not hard for me. I mean, when I think of all the awful things I did that did NOT work, it is NOTHING to simply take my supps and avoid milk & sugar to maintain a normal weight. My surgery was 6.5 yrs ago and I know others who are further out than I am, same doc, same post-op plan. Those who stayed on the post-op nutrition are holding at the bottom end of their wt range also, and looking good with good labs. My husband also had this surgery and lost 110#. I know several people who've lost 200-300#. And it's still gone and yes, they are 40-50" common channel people. We also had a small pouch, though, very small. I know statistically the small pouch gets it off, short common channel keeps it off, but I am pleased with the result of having had both advantages. Now, if you are not a person to supplement faithfully (as if it was Rx meds), don't even go here. Then you'd be trading sick-large for sick-thin. But given a choice, I'd do it again. I'd do this exact procedure. In fact, I did it again last year (revision due to staple line disruption). There are some disadvantages to this radical, but to me with my particular set of co-morbs, it is a fair trade.
   — vitalady

May 10, 2001
I had a LAP RNY done by a surgeon in Fresno, CA, Drs. Betcher, Frye, and Fast. They bypass all but 100-150 cm from the entrance to the large intestine. This is a truly distal reconnect. They also have an extremely high rate of weight loss and maintenance (90-95%). I do know that not many doctors perform such a drastic reconnect, however, as long as you take your supplements and protein daily there should be no problem. The way that this was explained to me is that it is like have Xenical built into your digestive tract. Since all of the fat breakdown and absorption is done between the portion of intestine after the reconnect and the entrance to the large intestine, if that portion is smaller less fat absorption will occur. Hope this helps.
   — Cheryl H.