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Background: Obese patients operated with jejunoileal bypass (JIB) have reduced plasma concentrations of insulin and glucose. Gastric inhibitory peptide/glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) have been found to have a profound incretin effect in humans. The aim of the present study was to examine the long-term effect of JIB on glucose metabolism., Methods: Four groups (lean, nonoperated obese, obese 9 months after JIB and obese 20 years after JIB) of six females each were given a mixed meal (280 kcal). Plasma samples were obtained every 10 min for 60 min postprandially and were analyzed for glucose, insulin, GIP and GLP-1., Results: A reduction in body mass index (kg/m2) was seen for the two patient groups operated with JIB (12.1, at 9 months post-op; 13.1, at 20 years post-op). Surgery by JIB resulted in a reduction of glucose and insulin values. Concomitantly there was an elevation of postprandial GIP and GLP-1 plasma concentrations. In the obese subjects 20 years after JIB both fasting and postprandial GIP and GLP-1 values were markedly elevated compared with the other three groups; and plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were maintained at normal levels., Conclusions: The improvement in glucose metabolism seen after JIB may be due to reduced insulin resistance after weight loss and/or increased levels of the incretin hormones GIP and GLP-1. Progressively, elevated levels of GIP and GLP-1 seem to be necessary to maintain glucose homeostasis at long-term follow-up after this procedure.

After bypass operations for obesity many patients had signs of liver injury (SLI). It has not earlier been possible to correlate changes in the preoperative liver function test with occurrence of postoperative SLI. The present study shows that those patients who before the intestinal bypass operation had a moderate to significant change in serum activity of S-LD 5 (isoenzyme 5 of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase) were at risk of developing SLI after the operation. All five patients with SLI, of whom three died, preoperatively had an increase in S-LD 5 exceeding five times the normal mean value. The pattern in the transaminases and serum alkaline phosphatase were not as conclusive.

Treatment of extreme obesity with jejunoileostomy was followed by a decreased level of S-tryptophan; permanently low concentrations were recorded postoperatively in 29 out of 52 patients. Patients in the low tryptophan group had a higher rate of weight loss and a hgiehr incidecnce of electrolyte disturbances and signs of liver injury. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were slightly more common in patients with low S-tryptophan. The influence of a decreased S-albumin and a deranged amino acid pattern on the non-protein-bound fraction of S-tryptophan needs further investigation. Serum levels of tryptophan rose significantly after rwo weeks' oral supplementation with 1.2 g L-tryptophan daily; this dosage was insufficient to normalize a low S-tryptophan level in patients who have undergone jejunoileostomy.

The complications after intestinal bypass operations in 103 massively obese subjects were recorded postoperatively for a maximum of 5 years. The surgical procedures were jejuno-ileostomy, end-to-side (op. I) in 35, and end-to-end with ileocaecostomy (op. II) in 68 cases. Wound dehiscence was the cause of the sole early postoperative death. The early complications found were those commonly seen after abdominal surgery, namely wound infection (n=24), wound dehiscence (n=5), anastomotic leak (n=2), leg thrombosis (n=2). One of the latter 2 patients probably also had pulmonary embolism. In 6 cases early intestinal obstruction occurred; 3 of them required reoperation. The late complications were divided into unspecific and specific in relation to the surgically induced malabsorption. Their incidence was analysed in 80 subjects observed for longer than 1.5 years after the operation. Unspecific late complications consisted of intestinal obstruction in 5 cases and incidional hernias in 18 cases. Intussusception was not seen. There seemed to be no increase in the incidence of gallstone disease or gastroduodenal ulcer after the operation. Specific late complications were electrolyte disturbances (ED) in 13, signs of liver injury (LI) in 9, urinary-tract calculi (UTC) in 15, and immunopathy (IM) in 19 cases. The IM group had skin rashes, arthralgia, and fever. Besides these somatic complications, a number of specific pyschictric complications were also observed (not published). Three subjects died after the operation with signs of liver insufficiency. The following factors were found to be of importance in the occurence of the specific complications ED and LI: 1. The presence of preoperative abnormalities in serum-electrolyte concentration and pathological liver tests, mainly occuring in the heavies patients. 2. Most ED and LI occurred during the period of main weight loss, in general during the first postoperative year. ED and LI did not appear after body weight had stabilised. 3. The rate of weight loss: ED and LI occurred, with a few exceptions, in the subjects with a rate of weight loss higher than 0.0130 weight-index units per week during the period of constant weight loss (see article).

Obese individuals, operated on with intestinal shunts, have been investigated with regard to immunological functions. After operation strong increases in skin reactions of immediate and delayed type were observed. Analysis of total WBC and differential counts, percentage T lymphocytes, immunoglobulin concentrations, and lymphocyte reactivity yielded no explanation of the findings.

The forty-seven patients in this study suffered of massive obesity and underwent jejuno-ileal shunt operations. Seventeen of them had a second laparotomy for various reasons. At both operations, a number of measurements were made; the length of the functioning jejunal and ileal segments and, in biopsies, the intestinal villus height were determined. The second laparotomies were not performed until at least 6 months after establishment of jejuno-ileal bypass. The mean length of functioning jejunum was increased by 33% (p less than 0.05) and the mean elongation of functioning ileum by 73% (p less than 0.001). The mean villus height in functioning jejunum increased by 33% (p less than 0.001) and in functioning ileum by 70% (p less than 0.001). The mean villus height in the jejunal blind loop decreased by 30% (p less than 0.001). The demonstrated hypertrophic changes in the functioning part of the small intestine following jejuno-ileal bypass represent the morphological basis of functional intestinal adaptation. The effect of this adaptation is clearly shown in the characteristic weight diagram of an obese patient after bypass operation: the loss of weight cases, a period of stability ensues and then the patient begins to regain weight to some extent.

Two cases of tuberculous infections occurred after intestinal shunt operations for obesity among 161 patients observed for more than one year. One died of generalized tuberculosis. Another 2 patients, who before the operation had had tuberculosis, managed well without signs of postoperative activation of the tuberculous infection seems to be unpredictable.

Twenty-nine patients who had undergone four different types of jejunoileal bypass for obesity were examined roentgenologically after ingestion of barium contrast. Functional intestinal length, blind loop reflux and speed of contrast through the small intestine were recorded. Weight loss was not correlated to any of the mentioned parameters or to operative method. Length of functioning intestine increased and speed of contrast decreased with time after surgery.