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The double-edged sword of metabolic and bariatric surgery : extending the biliary limb can trigger bacterial translocation, sepsis, and liver inflammation : an experimental study

Louis Onghena (UGent) , Anneleen Heldens (UGent) , Kim De Paepe (UGent) , Milton Boaheng Antwi (UGent) , Hans Van Vlierberghe (UGent) , Sarah Raevens (UGent) , Xavier Verhelst (UGent) , Anne Hoorens (UGent) , Lindsey Devisscher (UGent) , Yves Van Nieuwenhove (UGent) , et al.
(2025) INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SURGERY. 111(7). p.4239-4251
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Abstract
Background:Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) procedures with extended biliary limb length are gaining popularity to expedite weight loss but can induce liver failure. We aimed to investigate the underlying pathophysiology for this potentially fatal complication.Materials and Methods:We compared mouse models of vertical sleeve plication, sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and one-anastomosis gastric bypass with three biliary limb lengths (25% = Omega 1, 50% = Omega 2, 75% = Omega 3) by analyzing mortality, weight loss, metabolic and liver health, bacterial translocation, inflammation, and biliary and fecal microbiome. Gut decontamination with oral antibiotics (amoxicillin, vancomycin, neomycin, and metronidazole) was performed in a subset of Omega 3 mice. Liver histology from mice with different biliary limb lengths was compared to samples from human patients who developed liver failure following biliopancreatic diversion or RYGB.Results:RYGB and Omega 1&2 significantly improved glucose intolerance and liver steatosis compared to sham surgery. However, extending the biliary limb (Omega 3) resulted in 100% mortality. The Omega 3 procedure induced bacterial translocation of Enterococcus genus to the spleen and biliary fluid, consistent with increased serum lipopolysaccharide levels and terminal ileum, biliary limb, and hepatic inflammation. Liver histology in Omega 3 mice was characterized by mediovesicular steatosis, closely resembling the histological picture observed in patients with liver failure after MBS. Oral gut decontamination significantly improved Omega 3 1-week-survival from 31.3% to 80.0%, prevented bacterial overgrowth in biliary fluid and spleen, and decreased liver damage.Conclusion:Mortality in longer biliary limb MBS surgery is caused by bacterial overgrowth, translocation, and gut-liver axis inflammation, which were reversed by oral gut decontamination with antibiotics.
Keywords
bacterial translocation, biliary limb length, decontamination, liver failure, metabolic surgery, HEPATOCELLULAR FAILURE, GASTRIC BYPASS, TRANSPLANTATION, STEATOHEPATITIS, PERMEABILITY

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MLA
Onghena, Louis, et al. “The Double-Edged Sword of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery : Extending the Biliary Limb Can Trigger Bacterial Translocation, Sepsis, and Liver Inflammation : An Experimental Study.” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SURGERY, vol. 111, no. 7, 2025, pp. 4239–51, doi:10.1097/JS9.0000000000002502.
APA
Onghena, L., Heldens, A., De Paepe, K., Antwi, M. B., Van Vlierberghe, H., Raevens, S., … Lefere, S. (2025). The double-edged sword of metabolic and bariatric surgery : extending the biliary limb can trigger bacterial translocation, sepsis, and liver inflammation : an experimental study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SURGERY, 111(7), 4239–4251. https://doi.org/10.1097/JS9.0000000000002502
Chicago author-date
Onghena, Louis, Anneleen Heldens, Kim De Paepe, Milton Boaheng Antwi, Hans Van Vlierberghe, Sarah Raevens, Xavier Verhelst, et al. 2025. “The Double-Edged Sword of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery : Extending the Biliary Limb Can Trigger Bacterial Translocation, Sepsis, and Liver Inflammation : An Experimental Study.” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SURGERY 111 (7): 4239–51. https://doi.org/10.1097/JS9.0000000000002502.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Onghena, Louis, Anneleen Heldens, Kim De Paepe, Milton Boaheng Antwi, Hans Van Vlierberghe, Sarah Raevens, Xavier Verhelst, Anne Hoorens, Lindsey Devisscher, Yves Van Nieuwenhove, Tom Van de Wiele, Anja Geerts, and Sander Lefere. 2025. “The Double-Edged Sword of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery : Extending the Biliary Limb Can Trigger Bacterial Translocation, Sepsis, and Liver Inflammation : An Experimental Study.” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SURGERY 111 (7): 4239–4251. doi:10.1097/JS9.0000000000002502.
Vancouver
1.
Onghena L, Heldens A, De Paepe K, Antwi MB, Van Vlierberghe H, Raevens S, et al. The double-edged sword of metabolic and bariatric surgery : extending the biliary limb can trigger bacterial translocation, sepsis, and liver inflammation : an experimental study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SURGERY. 2025;111(7):4239–51.
IEEE
[1]
L. Onghena et al., “The double-edged sword of metabolic and bariatric surgery : extending the biliary limb can trigger bacterial translocation, sepsis, and liver inflammation : an experimental study,” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SURGERY, vol. 111, no. 7, pp. 4239–4251, 2025.
@article{01K1CZ1FK2ZARDG4YF4GE3AEVX,
  abstract     = {{Background:Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) procedures with extended biliary limb length are gaining popularity to expedite weight loss but can induce liver failure. We aimed to investigate the underlying pathophysiology for this potentially fatal complication.Materials and Methods:We compared mouse models of vertical sleeve plication, sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and one-anastomosis gastric bypass with three biliary limb lengths (25% = Omega 1, 50% = Omega 2, 75% = Omega 3) by analyzing mortality, weight loss, metabolic and liver health, bacterial translocation, inflammation, and biliary and fecal microbiome. Gut decontamination with oral antibiotics (amoxicillin, vancomycin, neomycin, and metronidazole) was performed in a subset of Omega 3 mice. Liver histology from mice with different biliary limb lengths was compared to samples from human patients who developed liver failure following biliopancreatic diversion or RYGB.Results:RYGB and Omega 1&2 significantly improved glucose intolerance and liver steatosis compared to sham surgery. However, extending the biliary limb (Omega 3) resulted in 100% mortality. The Omega 3 procedure induced bacterial translocation of Enterococcus genus to the spleen and biliary fluid, consistent with increased serum lipopolysaccharide levels and terminal ileum, biliary limb, and hepatic inflammation. Liver histology in Omega 3 mice was characterized by mediovesicular steatosis, closely resembling the histological picture observed in patients with liver failure after MBS. Oral gut decontamination significantly improved Omega 3 1-week-survival from 31.3% to 80.0%, prevented bacterial overgrowth in biliary fluid and spleen, and decreased liver damage.Conclusion:Mortality in longer biliary limb MBS surgery is caused by bacterial overgrowth, translocation, and gut-liver axis inflammation, which were reversed by oral gut decontamination with antibiotics.}},
  author       = {{Onghena, Louis and Heldens, Anneleen and De Paepe, Kim and Antwi, Milton Boaheng and Van Vlierberghe, Hans and Raevens, Sarah and Verhelst, Xavier and Hoorens, Anne and Devisscher, Lindsey and Van Nieuwenhove, Yves and Van de Wiele, Tom and Geerts, Anja and Lefere, Sander}},
  issn         = {{1743-9191}},
  journal      = {{INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SURGERY}},
  keywords     = {{bacterial translocation,biliary limb length,decontamination,liver failure,metabolic surgery,HEPATOCELLULAR FAILURE,GASTRIC BYPASS,TRANSPLANTATION,STEATOHEPATITIS,PERMEABILITY}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{7}},
  pages        = {{4239--4251}},
  title        = {{The double-edged sword of metabolic and bariatric surgery : extending the biliary limb can trigger bacterial translocation, sepsis, and liver inflammation : an experimental study}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1097/JS9.0000000000002502}},
  volume       = {{111}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}

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