Small Bowel Length and Bariatric Surgery Outcomes

NCT02872493 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 160971
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 470
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not the total length of small intestine effects outcomes after bariatric surgery in a cohort of patients preoperatively and up to ten years postoperatively. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and vertical sleeve gastrectomy will be the surgical groups in this study. We aim to determine if bowel length has a significant effect on long term weight loss or other nutritional deficiencies in this bariatric cohort.

Conditions

Malnutrition; Obesity; Weight Loss; Micronutrient Deficiency

Keywords

obesity; bariatric surgery; bowel length

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Body Weight

  Body weight will be measured preoperatively (within 30 days of the operation) as the baseline body weight, then postoperatively up to ten years from the time of initial surgery. Measurements will be made per routine clinical care and not solely for research purposes. Exact time points before and after surgery that body weight will be measured, except for the day of surgery, will differ between patients in the study. Change in body weight over time will be measured annually, adjusted for baseline body weight at the time of surgery. Regression will be used to test for a significant interaction of "total bowel length" and "body weight" over time in the patient cohorts (RYGB vs. VSG) - this is our primary outcome measurement. We are examining whether there is a significant interaction between any change in body weight over time and the small bowel length in the patient cohorts.

  Up to 10 years postoperatively as measured for routine clinical care

Other Outcomes (11)

• Vitamin A

  Up to 10 years postoperatively

• Vitamin D

  Up to 10 years postoperatively

• Vitamin E

  Up to 10 years postoperatively

Study Arms (2)

RYGB

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass - these are patients that undergo a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass operation for their bariatric operation.

Procedure: Small bowel length measurement

VSG

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy - these are patients that undergo a vertical sleeve gastrectomy operation for their bariatric operation.

Procedure: Small bowel length measurement

Interventions

Small bowel length measurement PROCEDURE

The total length of the small bowel with be measured at the time of the bariatric surgical operation.

RYGB; VSG

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

We will be studying two cohorts of patients prior to and following either Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or vertical sleeve gastrectomy for up to ten years.

You may qualify if:

• Patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery, either vertical sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
• Able to give informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Prior small intestine resection.
• Inability to safely obtain total small intestinal length measurements in the operating room.
• Any small bowel tethering due to intestinal adhesions identified in the operating room.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Vanderbilt University Medical Center: lead

Study Sites (1)

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Albaugh VL, Weinberg JL, Yu D, Spann MD, Williams DB, Samuels JM, Flynn CR, English WJ. Total Alimentary Limb Length Is Not Associated with Weight Loss Following Proximal Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. Obes Surg. 2025 May;35(5):1693-1701. doi: 10.1007/s11695-025-07817-5. Epub 2025 Mar 27.

  PMID: 40146457 RESULT

Related Links

• Total Alimentary Limb Length Is Not Associated with Weight Loss Following Proximal Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Malnutrition; Obesity; Weight Loss

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Overweight; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Body Weight Changes

Study Officials

• Charles R Flynn, PhD

  Vanderbilt University Medical Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 8, 2016
• First Posted: August 19, 2016
• Study Start: August 1, 2016
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2025
• Study Completion: March 1, 2025
• Last Updated: July 8, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)