Gastric Sleeve Surgery

This operation reduces the stomach’s capacity by giving it a tube-like shape, or low capacity sleeve. It makes the patient feel plenty with small amounts of food, and loose weight significantly. The procedure is also done through laparoscopy, stapling and cutting part of the stomach in order to reduce its size, but no section or suture at the small bowel is necessary. The sensation of fullness is more real than the one produced by the gastric banding, and the patients observe a marked decrease in their appetite during the first months after surgery, contributing to an easy weight loss. Food absorption is not tampered with this surgery; therefore it is not necessary to take vitamin or calcium supplements. This method is an excellent alternative to gastric banding since the same benefits are obtained with less discomfort and less intolerance from the patient. It is also the bariatric surgery chosen for individuals with less severe obesity (BMI between 30 and 35 kg/m²), old patients, and teenagers – due to the fact that when absorption is not altered, normal growth is not halted.

Advantages of the sleeve gastrectomy

It is a minimal invasive procedure, with results of a 50% reduction of the excess weight, similar to that obtained with gastric banding, without the discomfort that this latter causes. The dumping syndrome does not appear in patients with this type of surgery. Neither is there need to take vitamin or mineral supplements permanently after surgery. This is not a recommended surgical procedure for morbid obesity (BMI > 40).

Disadvantages of the sleeve gastrectomy.

A small possibility of requiring vitamin B12 supplement exists. This surgery implies cutting and stapling the stomach. With time, patients might be able to increase their stomach’s capacity and increase their weight if the recommendations made by the dietitian are not followed correctly. In cases where there is an important weight increase, the sleeve gastrectomy can be converted into a gastric bypass through laparoscopy, in order to obtain the previous loss. This is not a suggested procedure for people with morbid obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 40 kg/m2), since the weight loss might not be enough to solve their obesity problems.

Risks of the Sleeve Gastrectomy

The risks in this operation include: infection, bleeding, adverse reactions to medications, just as in any other surgical procedure. There is also a low risk rate of filtration on the site of the sectioned and stapled union of the stomach. Generally, the benefits of the sleeve gastrectomy surmount the risks, even though a new gain weight can appear several years later, or result in a deficient weight loss if used for the treatment of the morbidly obese (BMI of 40 kg/m2 or above).