Have you heard about the Duodenal Switch Surgery? It is the surgery which is performed to reduce the intake of food inside the stomach. In Duodenal switch, surgery is performed to lose the number of calories intake that a stomach absorbs. This surgery is performed by making use of the small intestine with the system of bypassing. In short, this surgery is performed to reduce weight. It is nowadays being undertaken by a number of people and is fast getting popular among the weight conscious people. It involves two techniques – the restrictive and the malabsorptive technique.
For performing the surgery, a small incision (about half inch) is made around the stomach as well as in the middle of the abdomen. The duodenum is separated by the small intestine during the procedure but the stomach is still attached to the intestine. This duodenum is placed to the bottom part of the small intestine instead of going to the second and third intestine segments. The procedure involves two stages, one is that of reducing the size of the stomach and the second is in relation to drastic changes in the digestive system of the body as a whole. In short, the stomach is divided vertically and 75% of the stomach is removed. Only a small tube is left in place of a stomach which is the gastric sleeve. This overall reduces the stomach capacity to just 100 to 120 milliliters.
The success ratio of Duodenal Switch Surgery is quite positive. Almost 70 to 75 % of the persons who have undergone this surgery have reported weight loss in a period of 1 to 1 ½ years. The only medication required is to have mineral and vitamin supplements which are to be taken life-long. This is due to the fact that the body now has less time to digest the food and absorb the nutrients. On the other hand there are patients who have not made any progress after undergoing this surgery. This is mainly due to the fact that these people were not able to digest the food that they eat.
How does it work?
A Duodenal Switch Surgery shortens the amount of time required to absorb and digest the food and nutrients. Due to this less calories and fats are absorbed by the body leading to weight loss.
Complications in Duodenal Switch Surgery:
There can be certain side effects in the procedure as it involves the gastric sleeve. There are certain risks involved during this surgery as it is quite aggressive. A highly obese person is not qualified for this surgery. Also it can lead so some complications as the intestinal tract has been altered and rerouted.
In the short term, complications such as infection, blood clots, bleeding, bowel obstruction or pulmonary embolism may arise. In rare cases, if the patient is not able to cope up with the complications death may occur.
In the longer term, there are certain complications that may occur due to this procedure. It may involve bone weakening or osteoporosis due to ineffective supply of calcium and Vitamin D, injury to the spleen and Nutritional deficiency as nutrients are not being absorbed. Other complications may be night blindness due to vitamin A deficiency as well as dumping syndrome.
Due to these complications, it is advisable to stay under medical observations once the procedure is performed for a few days. Also periodic checkup is absolutely essential after the surgery as these long term complications may cause serious deterioration in the body.
Once performed, this procedure is not reversible completely. As it involves the removal of the stomach, it cannot be replaced. On the other hand, the intestinal bypass of the duodenal switch can be reversible.
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