Morphometric studies of the small intestine following jejuno-ileal shunt operation

In five patients in whom a jejuno-ileal by-pass had been previously performed for massive obesity, a relaparotomy was performed because of subjective complaints or unsatisfactory weight reduction. At the reoperation morphometric studies were made of the functioning segments and the by-passed intestine. Length and circumferential measurements were taken, and the villous height and mucosal thickness were measured from histological biopsies. The results were compared with the findings in a control group. After shunt operation adoptive hypertrophy in the functioning remnant, a considerable length growth and dilatation of the gut, as well as a marked increase in villous height and total mucosal thickness, were demonstrated. These adaptive changes seem to be more marked in the distal part of the small intestine. No atrophy of the mucosa could be demonstrated in the excluded intestinal loop.