Background: Duodenal switch (DS) is considered one of the most effective bariatric techniques for long-term weight and comorbidity control. After these operations, some patients may get severe complications related to malnutrition and a few of them may need surgical revision. Lengthening the common channel (CC) is usually the solution: changing the Roux anastomosis or with a side-to-side anastomosis (kissing X). We propose that when simplified construction of the DS is used, conversion to single anastomosis DS (SADI-S/OADS) is an easy and safe choice.
Objectives: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of conversion from DS to SADI-S in cases of malnutrition.
Methods: We report three patients with severe malnutrition after a DS at 9, 74, and 84 months. One of them had also liver failure related to alcohol abuse and malnutrition. Laparoscopic reoperations included a new ileo-ileal anastomosis and takedown of the Roux-en-Y anastomosis with the aim of lengthening the CC.
Results: All three patients were successfully converted by laparoscopy. After a median follow-up of 54.6 months [32-76 months], all of them had moderate weight regain and returned to normal biochemical nutritional parameters. Two patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) before DS had complete remission before conversion; one of them had recurrence of T2DM after conversion. The patient with liver failure improved significantly after conversion.
Conclusions: Conversion from DS to SADI-S/OADS is a simple operation with excellent results in resolving malnutrition in those patients. However, weight regain and recurrence of comorbidities may arise.
Keywords: Biliopancreatic diversion; Complications of bariatric surgery; Duodenal switch; Laparoscopic bariatric surgery; Liver disease and bariatric surgery; Malnutrition after bariatric surgery; Metabolic surgery; One anastomosis duodenal switch; Revisional bariatric surgery; SADI-S; Single anastomosis duodeno ileostomy with sleeve gastrectomy; Staged surgery.