What is Duodenal Switch?

The Duodenal Switch is a malabsorptive weight loss procedure. With this weight loss surgery the stomach is reduced in size to limit food intake and the small intestine is relocated to limit food absorption and alter the digestion process.

This bariatric operation has greatly improved the health and quality of life for many obese individuals by helping them achieve and maintain significant long-term weight loss.

A Good Candidate for Duodenal Switch

Once you and your physician have decided on weight loss surgery, the next step is to choose the best technique for your obesity. This is an individualized decision based on many factors.

If you have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40, you may be a candidate for the duodenal switch. The duodenal switch may be effective for people with excessive BMIs of greater than 55.

The surgery does have more complications and may not be the right choice for certain high risk individuals, including those with heart failure. Determine if the duodenal switch is right for you by talking to a bariatric surgeon.

Duodenal Switch Procedure

Duodenal switch is combined of two surgical techniques: restrictive and malabsorptive.

The duodenal switch can also be performed laparoscopically, allowing the surgeon to make small incisions as opposed to one large incision. He or she inserts a viewing tube with a small camera (laparoscope) and other tiny insert instruments into these small incisions to perform the duodenal switch procedure. The restrictive method involves reducing the size of the stomach.

Malabsorptive surgeries restrict the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs. The malabsorptive method of duodenal switch surgery involves rearranging the small intestine.

Unlike the restrictive part of the surgery, the intestinal bypass part of the duodenal switch is partially reversible for those who experience malabsorptive complications.

With the duodenal switch, you consume less food, in which a majority of the foot intake passes through the shortened intestines undigested.

Average Duration of Duodenal Switch: 3-4 hours

Risks and Side Effects of Duodenal Switch

All surgeries have risks. The short-term risks of duodenal switch include: Bleeding/blood loss, blood clots, infection, and leakage (perforation of the stomach or a leak from anywhere the bowel is stitched together has occurred), difficulty in consuming liquids immediately after surgery, due to swelling around the stomach and small bowel.

Recovery from Duodenal Switch

Most individuals require three to four weeks of recovery after undergoing duodenal switch surgery. Individuals who undergo the duodenal switch can only consume fluids immediately following surgery.

Some individuals who undergo duodenal switch surgery may experience difficulty consuming liquids immediately after surgery because of swelling around the stomach and small bowel.

Results of Duodenal Switch

Most of the weight loss with the duodenal switch occurs during the first 12 to 18 months after surgery.
Patients can expect to lose about 70 percent of their current weight and about 35 percent of their BMI. The duodenal switch may result in more nutritional deficiencies and as a result, you will need to take nutritional supplements, including vitamin A, vitamin D and calcium on a daily basis.