Duodenal Switch Surgery

Vertical gastrectomy also known as vertical sleeve gastrectomy or sleeve gastrectomy is a less performed weight loss surgery and also very controversial. But in recent year, vertical sleeve surgery is highly performed especially with duodenal switch often known as vertical sleeve gastrectomy with duodenal switch.

Vertical sleeve surgery is performed in two stage followed by the second procedure duodenal switch. The purpose behind this two stage procedure is to provide safe and risk free weight loss surgery especially to the high-risk patients. Particularly, vertical sleeve gastrectomy with duodenal switch is very effective for the patients whose BMI index is more than 60.

In the first stage of vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery, surgeon removes about 60-80% part of the stomach leaving a “sleeve” shaped stomach that further extends the original outlet to the intestine. In this way, this procedure helps to promote weight loss by limiting the amount of food intake and controlling hunger cravings by stimulating the production of hormone called Ghrelin i.e. responsible for inducing hunger sensation.

In the second stage i.e. in vertical sleeve gastrectomy with duodenal switch, intestine is divided at the end of the intestinal tract to create a bypass from the duodenum so that food bypassing through the intestine mix with the digestive juice in the short bypass section of the intestine. This is totally a malabsorptive form of surgery that prevents the calorie absorption from the food eaten.

Successful weight loss result after vertical switch gastrectomy with duodenal switch totally depends upon the result of first stage surgery. Usually after first stage of gastric sleeve surgery, patients lose up to 30 to 50% of their excess body weight. The initial weight loss helps to safely proceed for the second phase of surgery. Normally, second phase of surgery is performed 8 to 12 months after first phase.

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy with duodenal switch provides successful weight loss results as it involves both restrictive and malabsorptive components. Although there are lot of controversies associated with this surgical methods and many people believed that it involves lot of risks and complications but despite of all this fact, it is still performed and considered to be effective form of surgery for people whose BMI is greater than 60 or above.