Question:
How does the length of common limb affect absorption?

I thought I had this whole RNY process figured out until I had my second consult today. I was informed that the length of the common limb would be a total of approx 120 cm and that the length of duodenem/jejunim bypassed would be 30-40 cm, with a total bypass of approx 160 cm...(Dr's math) What the heck does all that mean and does that mean I'm not going to have any malabsorptive properties to speak of? I found very little in the library on this and what I did find only confused me more...help!! (lol) Thank you!    — KimBo36 (posted on June 29, 2001)

June 30, 2001
The COMMON limb will be 120cm? So 4-5 ft (MY math). That is very distal, very malabsorptive. In my league. Not that it is bad, but if the doc is not up on supplementation, yeah, there could be problems. If you email me privately, I'll send you a little thing that I hope helps make the distal vs proximal thing a little easier to understand.
   — vitalady

June 30, 2001
I'm sorry, I confused long limb for common limb (I thought they were the same thing) I actually ment the LONG LIMB will be 120cm. Which is about 4ft. I have done much research on this since I've posted, and I believe that this is proximal...and not necessarily short. If I'm wrong (again) please set me straight...Thanks!!!
   — KimBo36