Duodenal Switch Surgery
The duodenal switch surgical procedure is available at our professional Tijuana Bariatric Center. It has been proven to be one of the most effective weight-loss treatment options available on the market both in the United States and in Mexico. This revolutionary procedure helps patients lose weight fast and keep it off for a lifetime.
The duodenal switch surgery combines a malabsorptive element with a restrictive component, which helps patients reach their long-term weight loss goals more successfully. If your weight has gotten out of control and you want to improve your health and quality of life, our professional team at Tijuana bariatrics center will help you put your weight loss journey into action today.
Duodenal Switch Surgery Information
Duodenal Switch is a successful weight-loss surgical procedure that is an alternative to traditional gastric bypass surgeries. In typical bypass surgeries, the stomach is divided and a small pouch is created forming a new stomach that is attached to the small intestine. With this surgery, approximately 75% of the stomach is removed.
The new stomach is about 25% of its original size allowing the patient to eat smaller amounts of food and still feel full. The small intestine is readjusted so that the food traveling from the small stomach does not interact with the section that contains the digestive juices until much further down in the intestines. This process reduces the number of calories that are absorbed into the body. Gastric Bypass surgeries can be reduced or repaired if necessary. However, Duodenal Switch surgery is permanent.
During Duodenal Switch surgery, about ¾ of the stomach is removed The remaining stomach resembles the shape of a banana and will hold between four to seven ounces of food at a time. This new and smaller stomach allows the patient to consume less food and the bypass feature keeps the food from being absorbed in the stomach.
The combination of these two factors helps to sustain weight loss for years after the surgery is performed. The stomach nerves stay intact to ensure that the stomach will continue to function as it did in the past, but it will be much smaller in size.
Duodenal Switch Advantages
There are several advantages to choosing the Duodenal Switch surgery for weight loss. Since the original stomach is still the same, only much smaller, you can eat more varieties and textures of food. This surgery also reduces the risks of developing stomach ulcers. The duodenal switch procedure is very successful for those patients that are very morbidly obese with a BMI index that is greater than 55%.
There are disadvantages to this surgery as well. Some patients have reported experiencing chronic diarrhea and foul-smelling bowel movements. Because this surgery is more complicated than other weight loss surgery types, it is not recommended for patients that have heart conditions and sleep apnea. Every surgery has the risks of blood clots, pneumonia, infections, and postoperative bleeding.
There are many different weight loss surgical options for patients to treat obesity. The Duodenal Switch procedure is proven to be one of the most effective. However, this surgery also has more complications than other procedures. It is important to check with your insurance company to verify that they will approve this procedure. Please contact us for additional details.
About the Duodenal Switch Surgical Procedure
During duodenal switch surgery, a partial gastrectomy is performed in order to reduce the stomach’s size. This resection is created along the long portion of the stomach in order to restrict its ability to hold food. The function of the organ itself isn’t compromised; just its size is reduced as a whole.
Unlike gastric bypass surgery, the pyloric valve and duodenum are left intact. The pathways are also preserved, which allows food to pass through the stomach and intestines easily. The body can absorb the nutrients it can from the food (unlike other surgeries), so dumping syndrome is less common with this duodenal switch surgery.
The layout of one’s small intestine is rearranged so that the flow of food and the flow of stomach bile and pancreatic fluid are differentiated. By doing these adjustments to the small intestines, our surgeon can help patients restrict their caloric intake while their food breaks down in their gastrointestinal tract itself. This will limit how much fat is absorbed as food makes its way into the large intestine itself.
Benefits of Duodenal Switch
There are many advantages to this type of surgery. Duodenal switch surgery is comparable to other bariatric surgery procedures but offers a healthy way to lose weight while still getting nutrients from food. Patients can eat healthy portions of food without feeling sick.
They also can properly digest food at the proper rate (no speeding up of digestion). The stomach’s ability to function properly isn’t impaired in any way. The pyloric valve remains intact, which means that patients are less likely to have blockages, dumping syndrome, or ulcers.
All of these results lead to weight loss. Losing weight helps to reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases (comorbidities) and improves existing medical conditions in patients. Patients will feel more confident and have more energy.
There are also risks associated with any weight loss surgery; however, our team will evaluate you and your particular medical history before recommending a treatment option. At Tijuana Bariatrics Center, we pride ourselves on being honest with our patients about all of the non-surgical and surgical options available to them.
Complications
The amount of risk that a surgery holds will depend on how extensive it actually is. The duodenal switch surgery is a complex medical procedure. Ultimately, any surgery can potentially end up leading to a number of complications if patients are not careful.
As it is an aggressive procedure, a duodenal switch can result in many complications. Patients should be aware of these at all times. Some of the most common complications that can occur are leakage, abscesses, and infection. As well as these, it is also possible that blood clots may form in the legs. Bowel obstruction is another common complication and patients will also have a much higher risk of pneumonia.
Side Effects
There are side effects that can arise from the duodenal switch surgery which are borne out of the complications that can also occur. One of the positive effects of this surgery is that patients will experience a high level of weight loss.
Vitamin deficiencies are also quite common simply due to the fact that the patient will probably not be taking in as many vitamins as he or she used to because their food intake has been reduced. Some of the vitamins that you may be deficient in include vitamin D, vitamin A, protein, and calcium. In some cases, it may be necessary for patients to take supplements. Various forms of infection may also become more prevalent.
Who is the Procedure Good For?
Those considering the duodenal switch surgery need to think very carefully about it (and any type of surgery) before making a decision on whether to have it. Ideally, those who undergo this kind of surgical procedure will be individuals who have no other choice.
Since it is such a large and dramatic change, patients will find that it can be life-altering. As a result, severely obese individuals are usually the ones who will take a look at getting this surgery done (View more procedures by visiting Tijuana Bariatric Center).
Post-Op and Dietary Concerns
After you have had the surgery and are out of the hospital, make sure to follow the specific food guidelines set out for you by your doctor and nutritionist. Patients must try to eat slowly until they feel full. Vomiting can occur if you eat too much. When it comes to medication, make sure to follow your doctor’s advice closely. Also, make sure only to shower and not bathe while the incision on your torso is healing.
Contact Tijuana Bariatric Center Today About Duodenal Switch
In order to learn about bariatric surgery or any other obesity treatment option available at our Tijuana Mexico weight-loss facility, contact us today. All of our weight loss procedures are safe, cost-effective, and efficient. We devote ourselves to help all of our patients achieve their weight loss goals. We believe everyone deserves to be happy and healthy. By offering safe procedures such as duodenal switch surgery at our Tijuana Bariatric Center, we can help you and other patients take control of your life and make a change in your health starting today. Call us today! We’re waiting to hear from you.