Duodenal switch is a major operation. It may take about three to four hours of surgery under anesthesia followed by hospital stay of three to five days and then complete rest for a couple of weeks more.
As soon as the duodenal switch operation is over, the cuts will have a bandage which has to be changed daily or once in two days. The incision may hurt or itch when drying. You will need medication that is prescribe for these type of problems. Some times their will be a tube inserted in your wound to drain any leakage. The tube should be removed in less than a week if you have no problems.
There may be swelling or redness on the incision. However, after the operation the patient must be completely in bed having bed rest for two to three days. He may find it difficult and painful to walk. He will be on a liquid diet for two to three days and then he will be allowed to have pureed food for another week. If he has tolerated this and has not vomited nor has had diarrhea, he will be slowly introduced to solid food. The patient must know that his stomach has been reduced so the feeling of fullness after eating even a small meal will be there.
Biliopancreatic Diversion with duodenal switch
If he eats too fast or eats too much or has solids and liquids together he may puke or get a stomach upset. He has to be very careful in what he is eating and how he is eating. He may have smaller but more meals than before. Since calories, vitamins and fat may not be fully absorbed; he needs to have vitamin supplements all his life. He must have calcium tablets also. He may want medicines in liquid form but that is okay.
If there is any redness or pain or fever after going home, the patient should immediately inform the doctor and take the prescribed medicines. He should not exert himself till about four weeks after which he can go back to his normal work. He can walk if he has no pain. If there is pain he should not continue otherwise walking is good exercise.
Women should not get pregnant till about two years after this operation. Since the size of the stomach has lessened, she should not over eat or eat too much, very fast. She should control her food and change her lifestyle to suit the new regimen after a duodenal switch operation. Regular checkups are a must.
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