Laparoscopic duodenal switch for morbid obesity.

Laparoscopic duodenal switch gives a consistent excess weight loss of 70-80% with acceptable long-term nutritional complications. It is especially indicated for super-obese patients with a body mass index greater than 50 kg/m(2). A systematic review of the literature and results of open and laparoscopic duodenal switch is thoroughly presented. Also presented for the authors' surgical colleagues are some technical details concerning their preferred method. Meta-analysis now demonstrate a low mortality rate for the laparoscopic procedure close to 0.5%, and operative times close to 200 min. Laparoscopic duodenal switch is likely to increase in popularly for the treatment of morbid obesity, especially with the recent advent of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for higher-risk patients.