What is a biliopancreatic diversion?
Biliopancreatic diversion, or another version of the operation called duodenal switch, involves removing three-quarters of the stomach and bypassing more of the intestine than you do with a gastric bypass. So it is more dramatic. It has more risks of complications upfront and it has significantly more risk of nutritional consequences because you are not able to absorb enough of the main nutrients that your body’s needs, especially proteins. However, since it leaves a little bit bigger pouch of stomach patients can tolerate larger volumes of food. It may have better long-term weight loss for heavier patients, because it doesn’t allow you to absorb as much of the food that you eat. And there’s no dumping syndrome. It’s potentially more risk, but if it causes more weight loss, then it may be appropriate for some patients. Duodenal switch is really offered only to the most driven patients who are able to afford the $1300 a year in supplements that you need to prevent vitamin and mineral de
