Duodenal Switch in Phoenix, AZ
What is a Duodenal Switch?
A duodenal switch is a weight-loss surgery that modifies your stomach and your small intestine. It combines the removal of part of your stomach (sleeve gastrectomy) with an intestinal bypass, which makes the path your food takes through your intestines shorter.
Dignity Health Medical Group is the Phoenix Metro Area’s leader in weight loss surgery including duodenal switch. Learn about the advantages of duodenal switch surgery and schedule your consultation today.
How Effective is a Duodenal Switch?
The duodenal switch is designed to treat people with severe obesity. It is the most complicated but also the most effective bariatric surgery. It’s especially effective against Type 2 diabetes.
How Does it Help?
The duodenal switch procedure restricts how much food your stomach can hold and how much nutrition is absorbed from your food by your small intestine. It also reduces your hunger hormones. A duodenal switch has been shown to help people lose more weight than either a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass. It can also reduce the risk of other obesity-related conditions including heart disease and hypertension.
Am I a Candidate for a Duodenal Switch?
If you are interested in the duodenal switch, you can talk to a bariatric surgeon with Dignity Health Medical Group about the best option for weight loss.
This procedure is designed for those who are severely obese and you are at risk for experiencing obesity-related disease and illness. This can range from a BMI of 35-50, depending on your related conditions.
The duodenal switch is less commonly performed than other bariatric surgeries because it is more complicated and more extreme. It involves more cutting and stitching and takes out more of your gastrointestinal tract than other procedures do.
How is the Duodenal Switch Performed?
You will consult with your bariatric surgeon and review your medical history. You will be put under general anesthesia and the operation can take a couple hours.
During the procedure, the surgeon will remove part of your stomach and reroute the intestines. The name duodenal switch comes from the fact that in this operation the intestinal bypass starts at the duodenum. The first part of the intestine, the duodenum, is divided and attached to the lower portion of the small intestine, the ileum.
In some extremely overweight patients this operation is performed in two stages. First, the sleeve gastrectomy is performed followed 9-12 months later by the intestinal bypass portion of the procedure.
Talk to a specialist about the specific methods and techniques that would work best for you.
Can I Have this done if I have had a Procedure Before?
Yes, this surgery may also be used as a revision operation for sleeve patients who have not lost enough weight or who regain significant weight.
Schedule Your Duodenal Switch Consultation Today
Bariatric surgeons Shawn Stevenson, DO, Van Leavitt, DO, and Gregory Robertson, MD are all members of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and have extensive experience performing safe and effective duodenal switch surgeries. If you’re in need of weight loss surgery, duodenal may be the right option for you. If you’re struggling to lose weight in the Phoenix area and think you may be a candidate for weight loss surgery, contact Dignity Health Medical Group today to schedule a consultation in Chandler or Gilbert.
