The Roux-en-Y Procedure
Bariatric Surgery

Step 1

The stomach is stapled just below the esophagus, forming a 20 to 30cc (1 ounce) stomach pouch above the staples, severely restricting the amount and kind of food or liquid that can be consumed at one time.

Step 2

The small bowel is divided about one foot below the stomach.  Then a new 1.5 centimeter opening (stoma) is created in the stomach pouch.

Step 3

The open end of the small bowel is attached to the new opening.  Food and fluids can now pass from the stomach pouch into the small bowel. The remaining end of the small bowel is attached creating a "Y-shaped" intestinal junction. An opening is made to allow digestive juices from the bypassed part of the stomach to flow into the small bowel.

Adapted from Bray, G.A., Gray, D.S. Obesity, Part I. Pathogenesis. West J. Med. 1988: 149:429-41.