Weight Loss Surgery
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
Obesity Solutions offers an innovative weight loss option to patients looking for a restrictive surgery without the permanent limitations of a bypass or the implanting of a foreign body involved in gastric banding.
How the Gastric Sleeve Works
The gastric sleeve procedure, also called the vertical sleeve gastrectomy, inhibits the amount of food you can eat by removing about two-thirds of the stomach. Unlike the gastric bypass, no other aspect of the digestion system is affected, so your body will not inhibit your food choices, only the amount you consume. That means, for optimum weight loss with this approach, you’ll need a higher level of commitment.
A permanent procedure, the gastric sleeve leaves the stomach in a tube or sleeve shape that can hold about a half to a full cup of food. Unlike the gastric bypass, there’s no dumping effect because the intestine remains untouched, so you have the freedom throughout your life to eat sweets or other carb-rich foods. This is actually a downside to the procedure, because it heightens your risk of weight regain.
Hormonal Help
Unlike any other obesity surgery, with a large part of the stomach removed, the gastric sleeve decreases the secretion of the hormone ghrelin that controls the desire to eat.
It Can Be Turned into a Gastric Bypass
The gastric sleeve can serve as the first stage in a gastric bypass. If your weight loss falls short, you can intensify your body’s ability to support your food choices and add the intestinal bypass portion as a second-stage surgery later.
Results from a Sleeve Gastrectomy
Like with the gastric banding, the average weight loss with a gastric sleeve over 2 years runs about 50-60% of excess weight.
Advantages
• The smaller stomach still functions normally, so you can tolerate most foods,
just in small amounts
• Can later be converted to a Roux-En-Y gastric bypass, if desired
• Eliminates the upper portion of the stomach that produces hormones that
stimulate hunger (ghrelin), so your appetite often lessens
• Less acid secretion, so less chance of an ulcer
• Because the intestine remains intact, less chance of intestinal obstruction
(blockage), anemia, osteoporosis, and protein and vitamin deficiency
• No adjustments or foreign bodies (like with adjustable gastric bands) that may
cause obstruction, slippage or erosion
Disadvantages
• Not reversible, because part of the stomach is removed
• Weight loss may be more difficult or lessened without the intestinal bypass
• The body still tolerates carb-rich and high-fat foods, which can slow weight loss
• No dumping syndrome (discomfort from eating foods rich in carbs)
• Because stomach stapling is involved, a potential for leaks and other
complications exists
• May not yet be covered by insurance companies as it’s still considered an
investigational procedure
Risks
Complications: The complications of gastric sleeve surgery are much less severe than those of intestinal bypass surgeries and are usually easily handled by a competent medical staff and patient compliance.
All surgical procedures have risks, and they are real. The risk of complications following this surgery is similar to the risks following any major surgery on your digestive tract. Morbidly obese patients face added risks because of their body size.
Potential Complications: • Death • Gastric/Esophageal Perforation • Nausea and vomiting • Gastroesophageal reflux • Ulceration • Heartburn • Stoma obstruction • Esophageal dilatation or dysmotility • Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) • Esophagitis • Gastritis • Blood Clots/ Pulmonary embolism • Pneumonia • Infection • Injury to stomach or spleen • Gallstones