Endocrinology and nutrition

Unidad de Endocrine Neck Surgery

Consultants:

Gastric Sleeve

A Gastric Sleeve is a laparoscopic surgical procedure in which the capacity of the stomach reduced by about 80% by removing a vertical portion of the left side of the stomach. This is irreversible.

In permanently decreasing the capacity of the stomach by 80% (volume restriction), we also eliminate the gastric fundus, which is where a hormone that stimulates appetite (ghrelin) is produced.

The result of all this is a new, smaller stomach that is shaped like a sleeve or a tube and expands very little, which not only makes you feel satisfied with less food, but there is also a noticeable reduction in appetite.

Who is a candidate for a Gastric Sleeve?

It is recommended for patients that have a BMI that is equal to or greater than 40 or for patients that suffer from other obesity-related diseases and have a BMI 35 or above. In addition, these patients must commit to long-term follow up.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Gastric Sleeve

The main advantages of this bariatric surgical procedure are:

▪ The rate of surgical complications is lower than for the Gastric Bypass, although the initial weight loss is similar since this surgery maintains the continuity of the stomach with the rest of the intestine.

▪ The required medical follow up is less strict than it is with the Gastric Bypass. Recovery is very rapid, an average of 3 days of hospitalization is required, and the patient can return to work after 10 days.

▪ The surgery is done via laparoscope, which is a simple and safe technique. It is also minimally invasive, as no large incision is required.

It is difficult to establish contraindications, since as a general rule this surgical technique is used with morbidly obese individuals whose food profile leads us to expect a lower weight loss with the gastric band procedure. We should point out the following:

▪ This is a relatively new procedure, and there are no studies that show its effectiveness over the long term (current follow up of 3 years).

The operation is irreversible.