Details On Duodenal Switch Surgery In Mexico

By Jocelyn Davidson


The surgical procedure to do a duodenal switch combines mal-absorptive and restrictive surgery meant for losing weight. This procedure reduces the food quantity one is able to take and the amount of calories the body can absorb and utilize. The surgical procedure is used to create a stomach pouch of moderate size and bypassing some section of the small intestine. For people that look to go for duodenal switch surgery in Mexico, it is essential that they know what to expect.

It is performed in a surgical centre or hospital through the use of general anesthesia. It starts with incisions that are half-inch long and are made in the area of the stomach and the middle of the abdomen. The stomach is left attached to the first segment of the ileum known as the duodenum which is then separated from the other parts of the small intestine.

What follows is the attachment of the duodenum to lower parts of the small intestine. As this is done, most of the first and second segments of the ileum are bypassed. When this is done, the surgical doctor affirms that there are no leakages before he or she withdraws the instruments used. The incisions are then closed using either sterile tapes or absorbable sutures.

The results of duodenal switching are excellent. Patients will be able to lose 70 to 80 percent of the excess weight within a period of two years. On the downside, patients are likely to contract nutritional deficiency diseases than would be the case if they used other weight loss surgeries. As a result, they will have to keep using nutritional supplements for their entire life. These supplements include vitamins and minerals.

For the long term, people that opt for this type of surgery will have lasting outcome. Because the body is not able to absorb all the ingested food, lifestyle changes are not a necessity as is the case with other bariatric surgeries. In addition to that, the patient will be able to eater larger food portions than they would with other types of restrictive surgery. This results in greater satisfaction in patients.

The benefits of the procedure are diverse, starting of course with the efficient loss of weight. One will have better quality of eating because of the normal stomach. There is the removal of the part of the food pouch that has the hormone that stimulates hunger, which means hunger and appetite are considerably reduced. For people that take anti-inflammatory drugs, formation of ulcer will not be increased. It is also possible to partially reverse the intestinal bypass in case one is having mal-absorptive complications.

On the downside, patients will have increased probability of suffering from chronic diarrhea, very smelly stools and gas. When the mal-absorption is significant, one may suffer from anemia, protein deficiency and metabolic bone disease. These conditions affect about 15 percent of patients. When taken in excess, carbohydrates could lead to one suffering from abdominal pain or long term regain of weight.

There is the possibility of having complications just like is the case with most surgeries. These include duodenal leak, small bowel obstruction and post-operative nausea. If performed by experienced surgeons, chances of complications are minimal.




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