Definition

Noun: A surgical procedure that shortens the functional length of the small intestine. This operation is performed as a treatment for severe obesity, as it reduces the area available for nutrient absorption, leading to weight loss.

Usage

This term is used specifically in medical contexts to describe a type of bariatric (weight-loss) surgery. It is a technical term. - The doctor recommended an intestinal bypass for the patient with morbid obesity. - Intestinal bypass procedures have become less common due to the risk of serious complications.*

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: The intestinal bypass (specifically the jejunoileal bypass) was one of the first surgical procedures developed for obesity but has largely been abandoned in favor of safer operations like gastric bypass.
  • The intestinal bypass is now considered a historical procedure in bariatric surgery.

Variants and Related Words

• Jejunoileal bypass: A specific type of intestinal bypass where a large portion of the small intestine is bypassed.
• Gastric bypass: A more modern and common weight-loss surgery that involves both the stomach and the intestines. (This is a related but distinct procedure).

Synonyms

• Jejunoileal bypass (a specific type).
• Bariatric surgery (this is the general category; intestinal bypass is one type).

Related Phrases/Compounds

• Bypass surgery: A general term for any surgical procedure that creates a new pathway to bypass a blocked or non-functional section of an organ. Intestinal bypass is a specific form of this.
• Malabsorptive surgery: A descriptive term for surgeries, including intestinal bypass, that work primarily by reducing the body's ability to absorb nutrients.

Noun

1. surgical operation that shortens the small intestine; used in treating obesity