Failed Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass-Long-Term Results of Distalization with Total Alimentary Limb Length of 250 or 300 cm

Background: Weight loss failure or weight regain may occur after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Revisional surgery includes distalization. However, few studies have looked at the associations between the total alimentary limb length (TALL) and weight loss outcomes, none with long-term results.

Objectives: Peri- and postoperative outcomes were assessed after employing TALL of either 250 cm or 300 cm in the failed RYGB.

Methods: This study is a retrospective cohort analysis of 90 patients that underwent laparoscopic distalization between January 2006 and January 2016 due to failed RYBG. The index RYGB was modified to TALL of 250 cm (n = 48) or of 300 cm (n = 42) which entailed elongating the bilio-pancreatic limb (BPL) and transposing the Roux limb (RL) to a common limb (CL) of 100 cm and 150 cm, respectively. Long-term weight loss outcomes along with nutritional and vitamin status were analyzed.

Results: Preoperative BMI at distalization was 38.6 kg/m². After 8 years, excess weight loss (EWL) was 61.8%. No differences between the two groups were seen in weight loss outcomes or early surgical complication rates (6.7%). However, more vitamin and nutritional deficiencies were present in the TALL 250-cm group (50.0% and 35.4%, respectively) versus the TALL 300-cm group (33.3% and 14.3% respectively), which led to laparoscopic revision in 27 patients by lengthening the TALL with 100 cm. Patients with weight regain after index RYGB had in average 59.9% higher EWL than patients with EWL failure.

Conclusion: Distalization of the failed RYGBP is safe and effective, but TALL should not be shorter than 300 cm (and CL 150 cm) due to high rates of malnutrition. Adequate supplementation and long-term follow-up are mandatory to prevent serious malnutrition.