Gastric emptying and acid-output patterns following a suprapapillary duodenojejunostomy reconstruction with differing lengths of the afferent limb in the baboon.

The importance of afferent limb draining biliopancreatic secretions in Roux-en-Y type reconstructions has never been evaluated experimentally. The effects of the suprapapillary Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy operation using a constant duodenal and afferent limb length but a varying afferent limb length was assessed in three groups of five baboons. Gastric emptying, which was assessed preoperatively and postoperatively, was not changed in the baboons with a 12.5-cm-long afferent limb, was significantly delayed in the baboons with a 25-cm-long limb, and was significantly increased in the baboons with a 37.5-cm-long limb. Gastric acid control remained unchanged postoperatively.