Distal? Types of surgeries???

I have only researched the Open Rouen Y surgery - could someone please explain
these different types? Is Distal something else? What is the main surgery that
is recommended here in these groups? I had thought the Rouen Y was the best,
but I keep hearing so many other ones I feel to research out some more before
settling in.
Thank you,
Kim

7 Responses to “Distal? Types of surgeries???”

  1. harold_2000 Says:

    Kim,
    There are many different types of surgeries and they all have their plusses
    and minuses. You need to determine which is best for you.
    www.obesityhelp.com has links to some great informational sites about the
    different types of surgeries. Distal is a term concerning the length of
    common channel left after surgery. In other words more intestine is bypassed
    which leads to greater malabsorbtion than the proximal which has very little
    malabsorbtion and the medial which is somewhere in the middle. I went for a
    distal RNY because I didn’t want to have to worry about weight gain long
    term. I don’t absorb fats very well, so I don’t really have to concern
    myself about fat content in my diet except if I go overboard, I get diarreah.
    Also, I dump with sugar so I stay away from anything with more than 8 grams
    of fat per serving. This also helps me keep the weight off long term.
    Another surgery that is even more distal than most RNY surgeries is the DS.
    We have many of those on this list and I’m sure one of them will describe

    that surgery for you. So do your research and find the surgery that fits
    your situation the best. Most importantly, find a surgeon that has done this
    type of surgery for awhile and has a very good record as far as complications
    and patients lost. A good surgeon, in my opinion, is the most important
    criteria. Good luck to you!
    Vicki
    open RNY 6/28/01
    155# and loving life!!!

  2. Rickey Nichols Says:

    Distal is a type of RNY which has the most bypassed. Medial (what BTC does)
    is an average length — not long and not short — while proximal is
    bypassing the shortest amount. RNY is considered the gold standard of WLS by
    the NIH however there is also the BPD/DS which Dr. Hess does, the lapband
    (which has just been approved in the last two years by the FDA) and the VBG
    (which fewer are surgeons are doing nowadays due to the failure rate. HTH
    Denise Rasley
    mailto:drasley@…
    BTC, Columbus, 10/7/98
    Lost over 90% of excess and maintaining
    Gained a beautiful daughter on 8/9/00

  3. Jimmy Ramonita Says:

    Dear Kim,
    There are several different types of weight loss surgery. All of the
    surgeries can be done with an open incision or laparoscopically,
    which is done with several tiny incisions. There are many variants
    to an RNY. Each surgeon makes their pouch a different size and you
    can be bypassed either proximal, medial or distal. A proximal RNY
    bypasses a small amount of intestine and therefore has a very small
    amount of malabsorption. A medical RNY has a little more
    malabsorption and a distal RNY has the most malabsorption. There is
    also the Lap Band which is adjustable and goes around your stomach.
    There is no malabsorption with a Lap Band. There is a VBG, which is
    not really that popular anymore because of the high failure rate.
    There is the BPD and the BPD/DS. The BPD is the original surgery
    done and the newer “model” is the BPD/DS. With the BPD/DS, you have
    your “real” stomach which has been surgically made smaller. You do

    not have dumping syndrome with the BPD/DS. The BPD/DS has the best
    success with higher BMI patients and is proven long term to keep the
    most weight off. You can go to www.duodenalswitch.com to research
    this procedure. I chose the BPD/DS because I wanted to lose as much
    weight as I could without watching or dieting and I never wanted to
    regain my weight years down the road. I also am able to eat sweets
    if I chose to and since I only absorb approx. 25% of the fat that I
    eat I can enjoy a more normal diet and still lose weight. You have
    to research all of your options and see what surgery best fits your
    lifestyle and desires. Good luck.
    Jodi ~ Age 38 yrs.
    230/118 (-112 lbs)
    5′ 3.5″ ~ Size 2/4
    Lap BPD/DS
    4/26/01
    Dr. Christine Ren, NYU, NYC
    www.thinforlife.org

    please explain these different types? Is Distal something else?
    What is the main surgery that is recommended here in these groups? I
    had thought the Rouen Y was the best, but I keep hearing so many
    other ones I feel to research out some more before settling in.

  4. Tanisha Carletta Says:

    Kim,
    The difference in the proximal/medial/distal RNY has to do with the
    amount of the intestine bypassed and therefore the amount of
    malabsorption. Proximal means “nearest”, meaning the section of
    small intestine nearest the stomach. In proximal bypasses, little to
    none of the small intestine in bypassed and therefore little to no
    malabsorption takes place. Distal means “distant”, meaning the
    section of small intestine furthest away from the stomach, usually
    somewhere in the last three to five feet of small intestine. This is
    the standard amount of intestine bypassed in the DS and induces the
    largest amount of malabsorption (100cm=3.28′). Medial means “middle”
    and is somewhere between proximal and distal. In any case, the RNY
    stomach is always made around 1oz and the pyloric valve is bypassed
    entirely. Distal RNY patients have almost all of the same intestinal
    symptoms and malabsorption risks as DS patients, but have a

    permanently smaller stomach and no pyloric valve.
    Judie

  5. Tanisha Carletta Says:

    Medicare goes by the NIH and is a govt agency with strict criteria…..and
    they do approve the DS!
    By the way, the DS is considered the “Platinum”.
    Judie

  6. Tanisha Carletta Says:

    The patients and doctors all call it the platinum and as soon as the NIH is
    updated the gold standard will change. The NIH is nearly 10 yrs behind right
    now.
    Dont you find it rather curious that medicare, being a government agency
    that has very strict criteria, approves the DS, based on the NIH?
    Judie

  7. Rickey Nichols Says:

    I know that the NIH is behind however they do certify RNY as gold standard.
    I could say it is platinum too and it wouldn’t mean too much though. I am
    not trying to be cruel or mean. But I think everyone who is satisfied with
    their surgery would rate theirs the best. It is an individual thing.
    However, I do hope that the NIH does eventually — SOON — take a look at
    all the new procedures out there and release another consensus statement. It
    would be nice.
    Denise Rasley
    mailto:drasley@…
    BTC, Columbus, 10/7/98
    Lost over 90% of excess and maintaining
    Gained a beautiful daughter on 8/9/00

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