The Sleeve Gastrectomy, also known as Gastric Sleeve Surgery is a restrictive technique that consists in reducing the stomach capacity by removing the left portion of the stomach vertically, especially the gastric fundus, as it is here where the appetite-stimulating hormone (ghrelin) is produced. The patient then has a smaller stomach, in the shape of a tube or "sleeve," which allows them to feel satisfied after eating smaller amounts of food, with a notably reduced appetite too.
Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Sleeve Surgery is indicated as a once-only procedure to be performed on patients with a Body Mass Index 40 (or BMI 35 with associated co-morbidity). Its practice is also recommended for patients with a Body Mass Index greater than 60, since these patients have a very high risk of intra and postoperatory complications. In some of these cases (patients with a BMI 60), the Gastric Sleeve Surgery could be performed as a preliminary step before a Gastric Bypass, by which time patients will have lost a lot of weight and, consequently, will have a much smaller risk of having any complications. This second procedure is usually performed 12 to 18 months after the first surgery.
With the Gastric Sleeve Surgery most patients can experience a loss of 50% to 60% of their excess weight over a period of 6 months as well as a loss of 70% to 80% of their excess weight over period of 12 months. although In addition, Sleeve Gastrectomy have a lower incidence of surgical complications than with the Gastric Bypass, but with a similar initial loss in weight. This procedure preserves the continuity of the stomach with the rest of the intestine, and requires no derivations or intestinal anastomosis, and avoids the rapid dumping syndrome by preserving the integrity of the pyloric sphincter.
Among other advantages, Sleeve Gastrectomy presents fewer medical complications associated to nutritional deficiencies and it requires a simpler medical control than the Gastric Bypass. The recovery is very fast, needing an average of 2 days’ hospitalization, and the patient can go back to work as from the seventh day. This is why this surgery has started to be proposed as the only technique for losing weight. |