Definitions
BMI
Body mass index. One of the anthropometric measures of body mass. A formula for standardizing the extent of overweight.
Dumping syndrome
Whereby stomach contents move too rapidly through the small intestine. Symptoms include nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and, occasionally, diarrhea after eating, as well as the inability to eat sweets without becoming so weak and sweaty that the patient may have to lie down until the symptoms pass.
Morbid Obesity
Severe obesity in which a person's BMI is over 40. This is generally equivalent to having 100 or more pounds to lose.
Pyloric Valve
This valve, locate at the exit of the stomach, regulates the release of the stomach contents into the small intestine.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RNY)
This operation is the most common gastric bypass procedure. First, a small stomach pouch is created by stapling or by vertical banding. This causes restriction in food intake. Next, a Y-shaped section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch to allow food to bypass the duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine) as well as the first portion of the jejunum (the second segment of the small intestine). This causes reduced calorie and nutrient absorption
The procedure is more extensive than the VBG (below). Some people prefer it because of a a sick feeling that results (called "dumping") when post op patients overeat. This can be
a powerful feeback/learning mechanism whereby people lose their interest -- at a "gut instinct" level -- in eating excessive carbohydrates.
Duodenal Switch Procedure(RNY)
The BPD/DS procedure reduces the stomach along the greater curature, effectively restricting the capacity while maintaining the its normal functionality. Unlike the BPD and the RNY procedures, which employ a gastric �pouch� and bypass the pyloric valve, the DS keeps the pyloric valve intact -- a main benefit of which is the elimination of dumping syndrome, marginal ulcers, stoma closures, and blockages. Unlike the BPD and the RNY, the DS keeps a portion of the duodenum in the the food tract of the small intestine, enabling more-normal absorption of many nutrients, including calcium, iron and vitamin B12.
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