ALTERATIONS IN INTESTINAL STRUCTURE, FAT-ABSORPTION AND BODY-WEIGHT AFTER INTESTINAL-BYPASS FOR MORBID OBESITY

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 146  (5) , 757-767
Abstract
Patients (11) underwent jejunoileal bypass for morbid obesity. Serial intestinal biopsies were obtained prior to, and at timed intervals following, operation in fasted and fat-fed states. Villus height increased asymptotically, reaching a plateau 1 yr after operation, with an increase of 80% in mean villus length. The postbypass body weight reached a plateau at 63.9% of initial body weight and correlated linearly with villus height following an asymptotic curvilinear course. The time required to attain 90% of total body weight loss was 15.9 mo. A study of intestinal fat absorption at the light microscopic and ultrastructural levels showed that the enlarged villi were lined along the entire villus by functionally mature epithelium capable of transporting lipid. Villus hypertrophy is an important mechanism in the plateauing of weight loss after jejunoileal bypass for morbid obesity.