What to expect after surgery
The duodenal switch procedure can often last three to four hours, and most patients require about three to four weeks of recovery. Part of the recovery process involves getting re-accustomed to eating solid foods. People who have the procedure can consume only fluids immediately following surgery. From there, they will progress to pureed foods and ultimately solids. Some patients can experience difficulty consuming liquids immediately after surgery because of swelling around the stomach and small bowel. In these cases, readmission to the hospital for a day or two may be necessary to rehydrate.
Pain may also occur following the surgery; your physician may prescribe painkillers to take after the surgery.
Most of the weight loss with the duodenal switch occurs during the first 12 to 18 months after surgery. Based on patient averages, you may lose about 70% of your current weight and about 35% of your BMI.
Compliance with nutrition guidelines is absolutely mandatory for duodenal switch patients because failure to comply can lead to malnutrition and significantly unpleasant bowel changes.
Who is a good candidate for duodenal switch surgery?
If you have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40, you may be a candidate for the procedure; others with lower BMIs, but with obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes may also be candidates. It may be effective for people with very high BMIs of greater than 55.
What Is Duodenal Switch Surgery?
Duodenal switch surgery generates weight loss by restricting the amount of food that can be eaten and by limiting the amount of food that is absorbed into the body. The stomach is restricted in size by dividing it vertically and removing more than 85%; this part of the surgery is not reversible. The stomach that remains is shaped like a thin banana and measures from 4 to 7 ounces. The nerves to the stomach and the outlet valve remain intact with the idea of preserving the functions of the stomach while reducing the volume. In addition, the intestines are divided and rearranged to separate food from the digestive juices, creating malabsorption. The food limb is attached to the duodenum and receives food from the stomach and is 150 cm long. The digestive juices are not separated from the food and travel over 500 cm in the bypassed small intestine. Both food and digestive juices mix together and travel for 100 cm in the common limb. As a result, food and digestive juices are separated for the most of the length of the intestines. This prevents patients who have had this surgery from absorbing all of the calories that are eaten.