[Indications and results of gastric bypass in the treatment of extreme obesity].

A report is presented on gastric bypass (n = 27) and gastroplasty (n = 2) in patients with morbid obesity. One patient died postoperatively (mortality 3.4%). Mean weight prior to operation was 129 kg (96 to 205 kg), i.e. 117% (63 to 253%) in excess of the ideal weight. During a follow-up period of 6 to 46 months, the mean loss of weight amounted to 38 kg (3 to 77 kg). 86% of the patients judged their condition as being very good to good. Diseases related to obesity were reduced to a remarkable degree: hypertension from 43 to 5%, hypertriglyceridaemia from 50 to 5% and diabetes mellitus from 52 to 13%. Two patients had to be reoperated on due to a peptic jejunal ulcer, five because of an incisional hernia. No patient suffered from diarrhoea, calculi of the biliary or urinary tract or electrolyte disorders. On the basis of these results gastric bypass would appear to be indicated for the treatment of obesity not amenable to conventional therapy.