surface area available for digestion. Longitudinal intestinal lengthening and tapering (LILT), also known as the Bianchi procedure, is a surgical alternative to STEP. LILT and STEP have similar outcomes. With each procedure, more than half of patients gain the ability to absorb sufficient nutrients in the intestine. A single-center study compared STEP and LILT, reporting fewer complications with LILT. References Digestive system surgery