Fats cannot be absorbed into the body unless they become water soluble, which is accomplished by bile. This moderate restriction is done to limit food intake as well as to reduce excess stomach acid, and thus prevent ulcer formation. The remaining stomach, however, still allows patients to eat a normal sized meal and gradually enlarges over the period of 1-2 years. Next, the small intestine is divided. This creates one tract for food an another for transporting bile and pancreatic juices down to the food.
Full digestion begins where the tracts meet.
We divide the intestine so that 50 percent of it contains the bile and pancreatic enzymes, and 50 percent contains food from the stomach. There is no 'dumping syndrome' because the food has traveled through he stomach. Also in every operation, Dr. Anthone removes the gallbladder and appendix. The gallbladder is taken out because of the higher risk of future gallstone formation after this procedure. One piece of equipment that makes this surgery possible is a special retractor that allows the surgeon to obtain good exposure in-patients whose abdomens are extremely thick.