Metronidazole treatment of bypass-enteropathy after jejunoileal shunt-operation for obesity.

In 5 patients with bypass-enteropathy following jejunoileal shunt-operation for morbid obesity, bacterial overgrowth was demonstrated in the functioning small bowel. The symptoms were effectively relieved during treatment with metronidazole in the 3 patients, who completed the treatment. Bacterial cultures revealed no anaerobic growth during 3 of 4 periods of treatment. Anaerobic overgrowth in the small bowel is probably the cause of bypass-enteropathy following jejunoileal shunt-operation.