Surgical procedures are currently the only effective longterm way to treat morbid obesity. However, these procedures all carry risks, with each procedure having its own unique risks.In 2007, Dr. Sanchez in Spain first performed a modification of the traditional duodenal switch using a single anastomosis instead of Roux-en-Y reconstruction with the sleeve done over a 56 French bougie [1]. We have modified this further by creating a smaller sleeve (40 French bougie sizing instead of 56) and less malabsorption (300-cm common channel instead of 250 cm) [2]. We have called this modification "stomach intestinal pylorus sparing" (SIPS) surgery to help differentiate it from the common complication of the traditional Roux-en-Y duodenal switch. The preservation of more intestine, along with the ileocecal valve, reduces the risk for malnutrition and diarrhea often associated with the duodenal switch [3,4]. The lack of a distal small bowel enteroenterostomy should eliminate or decrease the chances of internal hernias. Since 2013, we have performed over 300 SIPS surgeries. However, we have encountered 2 patients that developed chronic diarrhea without malnutrition that resulted in the need for common channel lengthening. Chronic diarrhea was defined as loose stools that last for at least 4 weeks. This usually means 4 or more loose stools per day.We present a step-by-step surgical technique of common channel lengthening (CCL) to treat chronic diarrhea after SIPS surgery. This is the first report in the literature that demonstrates the CCL technique after a SIPS surgery and also reports the first 2 cases.
Patient 1A 41-year-old woman with a body mass index (BMI) of 42.9 kg/m 2 had planned SIPS in 2014. Her current BMI is 26.5 kg/m 2 . Six months after surgery, she began to experience smelly flatulence, bloating, and severe diarrhea (6-8 loose stools/d). Her nutritional status (vitamins A, D, E, K, B1, B12, and copper and zinc) was normal. Her albumin and prealbumin were also normal. Dietary intervention and medical interventions of Lomotil and probiotics did not help.
Patient 2The second patient was a 63-year-old man with a history of inflammatory bowel syndrome who underwent SIPS surgery a year prior for morbid obesity with insulin dependent diabetes and a BMI of 38.6 kg/m 2 . The patient had remarkable weight loss after the SIPS surgery (current BMI, 22.5 kg/m 2 ) with resolution of pre-existing diabetes and gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, 5 months after surgery the patient began experiencing postprandial diarrhea (6-8 loose stools/d) that was unresponsive to both dietary manipulation and medical interventions of http://dx.