Death Associated with Hypocalcemia after Small-Bowel Short Circuiting

SMALL-bowel short circuiting for the control of extreme, intractable obesity has been cautiously approached by several surgeons. One of the most attractive features of this procedure is its reversibility. This operation has usually been combined with procedures done to correct other difficulties, the most common being incisional hernia. Weight loss is usually dramatic. Studies of some of the nutritional aspects of this state have been reported after both intentional short circuiting and massive resection.1 2 3 4 That these patients are candidates for various complications of the "malabsorption syndrome" is not surprising, and difficulties with calcium absorption as part of this syndrome are . . .