[Internal complications following jejunoileostomy in the treatment of extreme obesity].

More than 250 patients with extreme obesity were treated at the Chir. Univ.-Klinik Erlangen by 30 + 20 cm jejunoileostomy. The patients lose overweight and reach nearly normal weight after 9-12 months. Carbohydrate intolerance and hypertriglyceridema disappear. Ensuing malabsorption and also the surgical procedure are responsible for complications like wound infection or intussuception. The resulting chronic vomitting causes hypoproteinemia, hypokaliemia and liver dysfunction. Continuous therapeutical substitution is necessary, especially of potassium, to avoid deficiency. The diarrhea is treated by drug administration, i.e Reasec. The long time results are not yet sufficiently known. Calcium deficiency may occur many years later. The rate of cholelithiasis and nephrolithiasis ranges from 2 to 10%. The over-all lethality over 5 years is 2,8% as seen in the patients of our clinic during the past 6 years.