For Super-Obese Patients, Duodenal Switch Beats Gastric Bypass

Researchers report that a newer operation, the duodenal switch, produced substantially better weight loss in super-obese patients (BMI greater than 50) than gastric bypass, the standard operation. Three years after surgery, 84% of duodenal switch patients had lost more than half of their excess weight, compared to 60% of those treated with gastric bypass.

Researchers at the University of Chicago studied 350 super obese patients who had weight loss surgery -- 198 had the duodenal switch; 152 had the gastric bypass surgery. They report DS patients lost more total weight and a larger percentage of their excess weight, which led to a bigger decrease in BMI. One year after surgery, DS patients lost an average of 149 pounds, compared to 121 pounds for RYGB patients. And after three years, DS patients had lost 173 pounds, while RYGB patients' weight loss was 118 pounds. (Read Here)