Gastric Sleeve Surgery is a new bariatric surgery that has grown in interest and surgeon acceptance. Gastric sleeve, or vertical sleeve gastrectomy, is a procedure similar to gastric banding. Gastric sleeve achieves weight loss by restricting the amount a patient can consume within one sitting. Gastric sleeve surgery is sometimes a patient's second bariatric surgery, or a precursor to a more involved surgery like gastric bypass or duodenal switch.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery is a rather simple procedure, it involves the surgeon removing approximately 60% of a persons stomach. By cutting the stomach into a "sleeve" shape, then stapling the new stomach together, patients severely restrict the amount they can eat - therefore providing ample weight loss.
Gastric sleeve is becoming more accepted in a bariatric physicians arsenal because of its high expected weight loss. Patients can average 30 to 50% of excess weight in 6 to 12 months. This excess weight lost alone can help patients become qualified candidates for other bariatric surgeries (gastric bypass, duodenal switch), typically in 6 to 18 months. One of the additional boosts that lead to high expected weight loss is the reduction in Ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates hunger.
Advantages of Gastric Sleeve
Gastric sleeve can be preformed on patients with low BMIs (body mass indexes), meaning patients who are not candidates for gastric banding or gastric bypass may be candidates. There is no dumping syndrome, or dumping syndrome is severely minimized with gastric sleeve.
Another advantage is that all foods will be able to be consumed, you can eat normal foods without the fear of disrupting the surgery. This can be both a positive and negative aspect, because patients can eat high-calorie foods like ice cream, burgers, and others which can slow weight loss.
Risks of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Because the stomach is smaller there is risk for stomach leakage at the staple site. Other risks include vomiting, gallstones, nutritional deficiencies, infections, blood clots and even death. By contacting the helpful staff of Dr. Hector Perez patients can help alleviate any questions and concerns they might have on gastric sleeve.