Duodenal switch

Duodenal switch (also known as Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch) is a weight loss surgery that is performed to treat morbid obesity and related health conditions. This procedure is a combination of a restrictive and a malabsorptive aspect.

Procedure

The duodenal switch procedure involves two separate surgeries. The first is a sleeve gastrectomy, where a large portion of the stomach is removed to restrict food intake. The second part of the surgery involves rerouting a lengthy portion of the small intestine to create two separate pathways and one common channel. The shorter of the two pathways, the digestive tract, takes food from the stomach to the common channel. The longer pathway, the biliopancreatic tract, carries bile from the liver to the common channel. The common channel is the portion of small intestine, usually 75-150 centimeters long, where the contents of the digestive path mix with the bile from the biliopancreatic path before emptying into the large intestine.

Benefits

The duodenal switch surgery can result in substantial weight loss, because it restricts the amount of food intake and reduces the calories the body can absorb. In addition, because a portion of the stomach remains, patients are able to consume larger meals than they can with other surgeries, such as the gastric bypass.

Risks

As with any major surgery, the duodenal switch surgery carries potential risks, such as infection, bleeding, and blood clots. Long-term risks and complications can include malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and bowel obstruction.

After the surgery

After the surgery, patients must adhere to a specific diet to avoid malnutrition and other complications. They must also take vitamin and mineral supplements for the rest of their lives.

See also

• Bariatric surgery
• Gastric bypass surgery
• Sleeve gastrectomy

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