DUODENAL SWITCH
(Also referred to as vertical gastrectomy with duodenal switch or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch)
The Duodenal Switch weight loss surgerical procedure is considered extremely powerful and effective for long-term weight loss. The Duodenal Switch procedure helps patients rapidly lose weight and keep it off by permanently limiting food intake, efficiently absorbing nutrients and improving the body’s metabolism. Following surgery, patients can enjoy relatively normal and free eating habits, while at the same time, experiencing a higher metabolism similar to fit, lean person. From a surgical perspective, the Duodenal Switch is an involved and complex surgical procedure, and is only performed by a small group of surgeons worldwide—one of which practices at Surgical Weight Loss Solutions.
The Duodenal Switch involves three key steps:
- Vertical/Sleeve/Partial Gastrectomy – surgeon reduces the size of the patient’s stomach to approximately 15% of its original size. Once a portion of the stomach is surgically removed, the surgeon staples the opened edges to seal the stomach. By reducing the overall size of the stomach, patients can strictly limit their overall food intake, which supports rapid weight loss. Over time, the stomach expands enough to enable patients to eat approximately one half to two thirds of the amount of food they were able to consume prior to surgery.
- Malabsorption – surgeon connects the smaller stomach directly to the final segment of the small intestine, completely bypassing the first segment of the small intestine and the upper intestines. With nutrients passing through less than half of the total intestinal tract, the body must absorb nutrients more efficiently.
- Metabolic Reaction – by rerouting ingested food and bypassing key sections of the intestinal tract, the Duodenal Switch procedure has a positive impact on the body’s metabolism. Essentially, the Duodenal Switch rearranges how ingested foods are processed through the intestines, taking full advantage of natural hormones to lessen food’s conversion to fat.
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