Over the last few weeks we have been through different weight loss surgery options here on the Upper GI Surgery blog. Today we are going to look a little 
deeper into sleeve gastrectomy surgery. In Australia, Europe and the USA sleeve gastrectomy surgery is rated as the most popular of the weight loss surgery options that doctors offer to patients. Sleeve gastrectomy surgery is also referred to and known as gastric sleeve surgery.
How does a sleeve gastrectomy (or gastric sleeve) work?
Unlike gastric bypass surgery which completely bypasses part of the small intestine, a gastric sleeve creates a smaller “sleeve” of the stomach for food to pass through, restricting the amount of food that a person can consume following the surgery. The size of the stomach is reduced by 60 – 80 percent in total resulting in a significant size difference and ability to consume calories at the higher rate pre-surgery.
As the digestive tract still essentially operates the same, just with a lower volume of food able to enter the system, there are less issues with malabsorption of vitamins and minerals unlike gastric bypass surgery. This makes it a more appealing option for patients as this surgery requires less complex post-operative care. It has the lowest side effect profile of all the operations available currently.
Why a sleeve gastrectomy works
Although it may seem pretty self-explanatory, let us explain. The size of the patient’s stomach has been reduced dramatically and this has a dual effect:
- The patient can eat less food per sitting as a result of the smaller sized stomach, reducing their overall calorie intake therefore resulting in weight loss.
- As the stomach is now smaller you are less likely to feel hungry as often. That coupled with reduced production of ghrelin (the hormone responsible for the feeling of hunger); you will not feel hungry as often.
For some patients who have a very high BMI and/or other associated health problems, a sleeve gastrectomy may be advised as this form of surgery is restrictive as opposed to malabsorptive, meaning that the patient is less likely to suffer with further complications. It is less complicated and leaves the digestive system intact.
What are the risks of sleeve gastrectomy surgery?
As with every surgery this operation poses risks to the patient. However the operation is invariably performed laparoscopically which means less chance of infection and much quicker recovery times. But of course this can vary from case to case.
Patients can offer suffer from issues with reflux following surgery, however this usually will subside after a month or two, but each case is different. About 10% of patients will need ongoing treatment for reflux, and 2-3% will need surgical therapy for reflux or similar symptoms.
One of the main concerns is that this operation is non-reversible and that it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have long-term weight loss. The majority of the excess weight should be lost within the first year as it’s rare for patients to lose much weight after this time. Weight can also easily be regained if a patient’s diet and exercise regime isn’t correct, as the stomach can also stretch to a larger size following surgery.
If you are considering weight loss surgery and would like to know more about your options then please contact our team at Upper GI Surgery and we will be able to help.
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