Jejunal intussusception following small bowel bypass for morbid obesity

In 600 patients who have undergone small bowel bypass for the treatment of morbid obesity, we have encountered three patients who developed intussusception in the bypassed intestine. Diagnosis in these cases has been difficult but in two patients with surgical marker clips applied to the transected fixed jejunum as well as to the adjacent mesocolon, diagnosis was made easier by the radiographic finding of separation of these clips. Clinical symptoms are difficult to evaluate and valuable time may be wasted before a diagnosis is arrived at. Once a diagnosis is made, operation with either reduction or resection of the area of intussusception should be carried out with refixation of the bowel to the mesocolon and reapplication of surgical marker clips. These marker clips are of great value in the diagnosis of intussusception occurring in the bypassed loop.