Duodenal Switch Surgery

Duodenal Switch weight loss surgery begins with the restrictive procedure known as the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy where 60 to 80% of your stomach is actually removed from your body. (This part of the surgery is therefore not reversible) However the natural outlet of the stomach, the pyloric valve, remains in place. Therefore the stomach emptying process is not altered.

The second portion of duodenal switch surgery is the mababsorptive procedure where a small bowel bypass causes a diversion in the food stream, keeping it from mixing with the digestive juices until much later in the small bowel. It is only in this last 75-100cm, the common channel, that food mixes with digestive juices to be digested and absorbed. Thus limiting the amount of food being absorbed into the body.

With the reduction in stomach size comes the added benefit of a reduction in ghrelin, a hunger stimulating hormone. You loose weight because you eat less. And the malabsorptive portion of the surgery helps eliminate the absorption of calories.

This surgery has traditionally been done in two separate surgeries for those who are considered at high risk for surgery. Especially those with a BMI of 50 or more. The gastric sleeve portion can be done first allowing the patient to loose a substantial amount of weight before doing the second procedure.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Ability to eat more normally than other weight loss surgeries	Most complex weight loss procedure
Don't experience dumping syndrome because pyloric valve is kept intact	May experience frequent diarrhea that may or may not improve over time
Hunger hormone ghrelin is greatly reduced	Life long protein malnutrition, anemia, and bone disease monitoring
Average excess weight loss ranges from 60%-80%	Life long vitamin supplementation

Bariatric Weight Loss Surgeries, like any surgery involves a certain degree of risk either during or after surgery. You should research any surgery you may be interested in and then consult with an experienced, qualified, bariatric surgeon before making up your mind. The surgeon you choose is as important as the surgery you decide on. You will literally be putting your life in his or her hands.

There are many things to think about when deciding which surgery is best for you. Some procedures are much more complicated than others and therefore involve more risk. Each one offers a varying percentage of excess weight loss which is another factor to consider when making a decision. They also require a dramatic lifestyle change that must be adhered to in order to have successful weight loss and a high quality of life and good health.

Good Luck with your decision. Please read about My Decision and the Choice I made.

View an actual video of the Duodenal Switch Surgery: