Duodenal Switch With Biliopancreatic Diversion - Know More About This Surgery!

A biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch is a less common kind of weight-loss procedure. The procedure is conducted in two steps. The first step involves sleeve gastrectomy, where about 80 percent of the stomach gets removed, hence leaving behind a small stomach, in the shape of a tube. Though the valve, which releases food to the small intestine remains intact along with a small portion of the small intestine that normally stays connected to the stomach. The second step ensures that the major part of the intestine gets bypassed through connecting the end portion of the intestine to the duodenum close to the stomach. A Biliopancreatic Diversion (BPD) puts a limit on how much one can eat and thus reduces the nutrients from getting absorbed, which includes fats and proteins.

BPD is usually conducted as a single procedure but in some selective situations, the procedure might get performed as two separate operations, sleeve gastrectomy and that is followed by intestinal bypass once the process of losing weight has begun.

Why the surgery is conducted?
A Duodenal Switch with Biliopancreatic Diversion is done in order to assist a person in losing excess weight and thus reduce the risk of developing potential life-threatening health problems related to health, which includes:

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• High level of cholesterol
• Severe kind of sleep apnea
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Infertility
• Stroke

Eligible candidates for the surgery

• This surgery is mostly done only when people have tried to lose weight by making improvements in their diet and exercise habits.
• Still, this surgery is not for every individual who is overweight. People would have to go through an extensive process of screening to determine if they qualify.
• Patients, who become eligible, have to be willing to make permanent changes so as to lead a healthy lifestyle both before as well as after the surgery.
• This might include long-term plans where they follow-up by monitoring if they are maintaining their nutrition, lifestyle, behaviour and also their medical conditions.

Risks associated with the surgery
This particular surgery, as with any other surgery, carries some potential risks. They are both in the short-term and in the long-term.

Risks associated with BPD/DS are similar to any abdominal surgery and include:

• Excess amount of bleeding
• Infection
• Adverse reactions to anesthesia
• Blood clots
• Shortness of breath due to breathing problems
• Leaks might arise in the gastrointestinal system.
• Long-term risks and complications from this surgery might include:
• Obstruction in the bowel movements
• Dummping syndrome leading to diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting tendencies.
• Gallbladder stones
• Hernias might arise
• Blood sugar level might come down
• People might even suffer from malnutrition
• There could be perforation in the stomach