Duodenal Switch

A duodenal switch limits food intake and the calories the body can be absorb. On average, you can expect to lose 70 to 80% of your excess body weight following the surgery, and keep it off with excellent maintenance and a healthy lifestyle. A duodenal switch operation helps you lose weight, in part, because it bypasses part of your small intestine, causing much of the food you eat to pass through the body and not be absorbed.

Our experienced surgeons are the only ones in Central Florida to perform this surgery robotically and laparoscopically, using small incisions, meaning your pain will be minimized and recovery time shortened. The weight loss could add years to your life and help you avoid many disorders.

The Procedure

The duodenal switch is a type of combined malabsorptive and restrictive weight loss surgery. The duodenal switch is known by multiple names, including DS, SADI, and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch.

The duodenal switch procedure is performed in a hospital or a surgery center, using general anesthesia. The surgery begins with multiple half-inch long incisions in the area of the stomach and middle of the abdomen.

The duodenal switch combines the creation of a moderately sized stomach pouch with bypassing part of the small intestine. This allows the patient to lose weight without significantly altering their eating habits. The stomach is able to hold approximately five to six ounces of food, while other common procedures typically leave it able to hold one half to one full ounce.

After the Duodenal Switch Procedure

Duodenal switch surgery has excellent results, with the average patient losing 70 to 80% of their excess weight in the two years that follow the procedure. However, patients who choose this type of surgery are at much higher risk for nutritional deficiencies than with other types of weight loss surgery. Nutritional supplements, including vitamins and minerals, will be necessary for the lifetime of the patient.

Long-term, most patients who choose this type of surgery end up with lasting results. Because the body is unable to digest all of the food taken in, lifestyle changes are not as crucial as they are with other types of bariatric surgery. In addition, patients are able to eat substantially larger portions than those who have other types of restrictive weight loss surgeries, allowing for greater patient satisfaction.