Intestine Reduction for Weight Loss

According to the National Institutes of Health, roughly 133.6 million Americans are overweight or obese. For the majority of people, weight can be lost through a combination of dieting and exercise. However, for some people it is necessary to undergo bariatric surgery to lose weight. There are several types of weight loss medical procedures, but one of the major ones is to have an intestine reduction, or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. This procedure is not for everyone; only those with a body mass index of 50 or greater should have it done.

Description of Procedure

• The biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch procedure is a rather complicated one that begins when your surgeon divides your stomach into two sections and separates them with staples. According to Gastric Surgeon, half of the stomach will be reduced to holding roughly 6 oz. and the remaining section will be removed from the body. The middle section of the small intestine, called the jejunum, is also removed. The removal of the jejunum will lessen the likelihood that calories will be absorbed during the digestion process.

  After the removal of the middle section, the last section, the ileum, is then connected to the part of the small intestine that connects to the stomach, called the duodenum, says Rochester General Hospital. The patient will remain in the hospital for several days, and then be released shortly thereafter. Typically, regular activity can be resumed after three to five weeks of recovery.

Side Effects and Results

• As with any bariatric procedure, there are side effects to losing a great deal of weight through surgical means with intestine reduction. In this case, since the small intestine is shortened, you may experience nutritional deficiencies due to vitamins and minerals not being absorbed properly, warns Baricenter of New York. Infection, bleeding, and leakage in the abdominal cavity can all occur, but the overall risk is quite low if the surgery was conducted properly and medical instructions are followed, Gastric Surgeon says.

  Weight loss, following a surgery, generally happens quite rapidly because the amount of food your body can hold is substantially reduced. Rochester General Hospital says that if dietary, exercise, and general health plans are followed, 80 percent of the excess weight can be lost.

  For those who suffer from weight-related health ailments, such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea, the procedure can help improve or eliminate the symptoms of them over the long term. A person's mobility and appearance will also improve with sustained weight loss over several months and years.