With the Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD-DS), about 50-60% of the stomach is removed and the duodenum is detached from the stomach. These maneuvers provide a smaller stomach capacity and also metabolic re-balancing for reduced appetite. The intestines are surgically connected so that digestive juices mix with food only a short distance upstream from the colon. The reduced absorptive area causes a significant portion of food to pass into the colon and then to be excreted with frequent and sometimes foul-smelling bowel movements.

The BPD-DS is accomplished laparoscopically (minimally invasive) in most cases. Patients usually go home after 2-3 nights in the hospital, and go back to work 2-4 weeks after surgery.

Long term bariatric follow up and long term supplement intake are important for all bariatric operations, but vitamins are especially important with the BPD-DS. Patients who don’t take the right supplements incur significant risk of medically serious conditions due to vitamin deficiency.

Results vary from patient to patient, but on average patients lose 100-300 pounds after a BPD-DS. The percentage of improvement in obesity-related medical problems is even higher than with Gastric Sleeve or Gastric Bypass, but close lifetime follow up is absolutely required.

As with all bariatric surgeries, it is important to choose a surgeon at a high-volume program with extensive experience in both surgical technique as well as long-term management and support of patients.