RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Can Roux-en-Y gastric bypass provide a lifelong solution for diabetes mellitus? JF Canadian Journal of Surgery JO CAN J SURG FD Canadian Medical Association SP E269 OP E275 VO 52 IS 6 A1 Abdulzahra Hussain A1 Hind Mahmood A1 Shamsi EL-Hasani YR 2009 UL http://canjsurg.ca/content/52/6/E269.abstract AB Background: The surgical treatment of diabetes had witnessed progressive development and success since the first case of pancreatic transplantation. Although this was a great step, wide clinical application was limited by several factors. Bariatric surgery such as gastric bypass is emerging as a promising option in obese patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of this article is to explore the current application of gastric bypass in patients with type 2 diabetes and the theoretical bases of gastric bypass as a treatment option for type 1 diabetes.Methods: We performed a MEDLINE search for articles published from August 1955 to December 2008 using the words “surgical treatment of diabetes,” “etiology of diabetes” and “gastric bypass.”Results: We identified 3215 studies and selected 72 relevant papers for review. Surgical treatment of diabetes is evolving from complex pancreatic and islets transplantation surgery for type 1 diabetes with critical postoperative outcome and follow-up to a metabolic surgery, including gastric bypass. Gastric bypass (no immune suppression or graft rejection) has proven to be highly effective treatment for obese patients and nonobese animals with type 2 diabetes. There are certain shared criteria between types 1 and 2 diabetes, making a selected spectrum of the disease a potential target for metabolic surgery to improve or cure diabetes.Conclusion: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a promising option for lifelong treatment of type 2 diabetes. It has the potential to improve or cure a selected spectrum of type 1 diabetes when performed early in the disease. Further animal model studies or randomized controlled trials are needed to support our conclusion.