Duodenal Switch Bypass Surgery is a longer, more complicated stomach bypass procedure. The bariatric surgeon partially resects the stomach leaving a smaller pouch (about 6 ounces capacity) which restricts food intake. The small intestine is then divided, with one end attached to the stomach pouch forming the "alimentary limb."

All food ingested into the stomach passes down this segment which completely bypasses the duodenum and the jejunum. Meanwhile, the digestive juices from the pancreas and stomach, regulated by the pyloric valve at the stomach exit, are channeled through the "biliopancreatic limb", which meets the "alimentary limb" thus forming a common limb at which point some calorie and nutritional absorption then occurs.

Gallbladder pain is typically described as pain in the right upper abdomen which sometimes goes through to the back. The pain usually intensifies after meals, especially meals of fatty or fried foods. The most common source of gallbladder disease is gallstones. Treatment is surgical removal of the gallbladder and stones.

On average, patients who have malabsorptive bypass surgery, like duodenal switch bypass, typically lose two-thirds of their pre-operative excess weight within 2 years. Although a more drastic procedure than other bypass surgeries, biliopancreatic duodenal switch surgery is especially effective for weight reduction.

After undergoing Duodenal Switch Bypass Surgery patients should eat small meals frequently throughout the day, as their new smaller stomach cannot accommodate large meals. Neither can the new stomach tolerate large amounts of fat, alcohol, or sugar. So for optimum weight loss and minimum side effects after biliopancreatic duodenal switch bypass surgery, it is essential that patients reduce fat intake, especially fast food meals and deep-fried foods, as well as high-sugar foods like cakes, cookies, and candy.

Duodenal switch stomach surgery has greater weight loss benefits than more moderate bypass procedures (like roux-en-y) but poses greater nutritional problems. However, duodenal switch is less food restrictive than the roux-en-y bypass. The new stomach pouch can accommodate about 6 ounces of food compared with the roux stomach content of about 1 ounce. Given the greater malabsorption element in duodenal switch bypass compared to roux-en-y, it means that patients can eat more and still lose weight.

• Introduction to Bariatric/Obesity Surgery
• Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band Surgery
• Laproscopic ROUX-EN-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery
• Biliopancreatic Diversion surgery
• Duodenal Switch Bypass Surgery
• Endoscopic Intragastric Balloon Surgery
• Silastic Ring Gastric Bypass Surgery