Blind-Loop Reflux in Relation to Weight Loss in Obese Patients Treated with Jejunoileal Anastomosis

Abstract

In 10 patients operated on with jejunoileal anastomosis for obesity, rate and degree of weight loss showed no significant correlation to the following roentgenological parameters: gastric emptying time, small bowel transit time, and degree and duration of reflux to the excluded ileum. A predominant feature in all patients was a slowness of gastrointestinal passage. The absolute size of the weight loss was approximately the same in all patients irrespective of their initial weight. This means that the most obese patients (150 kg and more) stabilized their weight at a too high level. It is concluded that a more effective treatment of patients with extreme obesity should consist in shortening the intestine left in function, and not in an extended surgical procedure aiming at avoiding reflux into the blind loop.

Key-words:

• Blind loop
• jejunoileostomy
• obesity
• reflux
• weight loss