Cottam isn't the only one. Enoch's patients have complained too - and look at Jawad's site (quickly, because I do believe it may be changed soon):
http://www.jawadmd.com/services/non-surgical-weight-loss/
Copied:
Duodenal Switch
The duodenal switch is a type of combined
malabsorptive and
restrictive weight loss surgery. The duodenal switch is known by multiple names, including DS and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. This surgery decreases both the quantity of food that can be accommodated by the stomach and the number of calories that can be absorbed and used by the body.
The duodenal switch combines the creation of a moderately sized stomach pouch with bypassing part of the small intestine. This allows the patient to lose weight without significantly altering their eating habits. The stomach is able to hold approximately five to six ounces of food, while other common procedures typically leave it able to hold one half to one full ounce.
Duodenal Switch Procedure
The duodenal switch procedure is performed in a hospital or a surgery center, using
general anesthesia. A
laparoscopic procedure, the surgery begins with multiple half-inch long incisions in the area of the stomach and middle of the abdomen.
The stomach remains attached the first segment of the small intestine, the
duodenum, which is then separated from the rest of the small intestine. The duodenum is then attached to the lowest part of the small intestine, bypassing the majority of the second and third segments of the small intestine.
The surgeon determines that there are no areas that are leaking, and then the instruments are withdrawn and the incisions are closed, typically with absorbable
suturesor sterile tape.
After Duodenal Switch
Duodenal switch surgery has excellent results, with the average patient losing 70 to 80% of his excess weight in the two years that follow the procedure. However, patients who choose this type of surgery are at much higher risk for nutritional deficiencies than with other types of weight loss surgery. Nutritional supplements, including vitamins and minerals, will be necessary for the lifetime of the patient.
The procedure was expected to be an improvement on biliopancreatic diversion (BPD), an older procedure. Surgeons believed that by preserving the pyloric sphincter that closes the bottom of the stomach, food would have an opportunity to be better digested, decreasing the level of malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies and preventing
dumping syndrome after surgery. However, studies have shown that there is no difference in the rates of malnutrition following the two surgeries.
Long-term, most patients who choose this type of surgery end up with lasting results. Because the body is unable to digest all of the food taken in, lifestyle changes are not as crucial as they are with other types of bariatric surgery. In addition, patients are able to eat substantially larger portions than those who have other types of restrictive weight loss surgeries, allowing for greater patient satisfaction.