The sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive type of weight loss surgery in which in the region of 85% of the stomach is surgically removed leaving a sleeve shaped stomach with a substantially reduced capacity ranging from about 60 to 150 cc. As distinct from the majority of other types of weight loss surgery, the outlet valve and the nerves to the stomach are left in place and, although the stomach is drastically reduced in volume, its function is unchanged. Again, unlike other types of weight loss surgery like the time honored Roux-en-Y gastric bypass the sleeve gastrectomy cannot be reversed.
Because the newly fashioned stomach functions as normal there are far fewer restrictions when it comes to the foods which patients can consume after surgery, even if the quantity of food eaten will be considerably reduced. Many patients see this as being one of the chief advantages of the vertical sleeve gastrectomy, as well as the fact that removing most of the stomach also causes the effective elimination of the hormones that are produced in the stomach and which stimulate hunger.
Perhaps the greatest advantage of the sleeve gastrectomy lies in the fact that it does not bypass the intestines so that patients do not thus suffer the complications of bypass including intestinal obstruction, osteoporosis, vitamin deficiency and protein deficiency. It also makes it a fitting form of surgery for patients who are already suffering from anemia, Crohn's disease and various other conditions that would put them at high risk for surgery involving intestinal bypass.
Finally, it is one of of only a few types of weight loss surgery which can be performed laparoscopically in patients who are extremely overweight.
Perhaps the chief disadvantage of the sleeve gastrectomy is that it does not always create the loss in weight which patients want and may even result in weight regain in the longer term. This is of course the case with any form of purely restrictive weight loss surgery but it is possibly especially true in the case of the vertical sleeve gastrectomy.
Because the procedure requires stapling of the stomach patients do run the risk from leaks and of other complications which are specifically related to stapling. In addition, as is the case with any operation, patients run the risk of complications including post-operative bleeding, small bowel obstruction, pneumonia and even death. The chances of encountering these complications is luckily very small and varies from about 0.5 and 1%. This said, the chance of dying from this form of operation at about 0 .25% is very small indeed.
In general the sleeve gastrectomy is most suitable for patients who are either extremely overweight or whose medical condition would rule out other types of weight loss surgery. In the case of the first category of patient the sleeve gastrectomy would normally form the first of a two-part weight loss plan, with additional surgery being undertaken once the individual's weight has fallen enough to allow other types of weight loss surgery to be done.
The sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive form of weight loss surgery in which roughly 85 percent of the stomach is surgically removed leaving a cylindrical or sleeve shaped stomach with a vastly reduced capacity of somewhere between 60 and 150 cc. Unlike most other types of bariatric surgery, the outlet valve and the nerves to the stomach remain in place and, despite the fact that the stomach is severely reduced in size, its function is unaltered. In addition, unlike other types of weight loss surgery such as the classical Roux-en-Y gastric bypass the sleeve gastrectomy cannot be reversed.
Because the newly created stomach functions normally there are far fewer restrictions on the foods which patients can eat after surgery, even if the quantity of food eaten will be very much reduced. This is viewed by many patients as being one of the great advantages of the sleeve gastrectomy, as well as the fact that the removal of the greater part of the stomach also causes the essential elimination of the hormones which are produced in the stomach and which stimulate hunger.
Perhaps the main advantage of the vertical sleeve gastrectomy lies in the fact that it does not bypass the intestinal tract and patients do not therefore encounter the complications of intestinal bypass including intestinal obstruction, osteoporosis, vitamin deficiency and protein deficiency. It also means that it is a suitable form of surgery for people who are already suffering from Crohn's disease, anemia and a variety of other conditions which would put them at high risk for intestinal bypass surgery.
Lastly, it is one of the few types of bariatric which can be performed laparoscopically in people who are particularly obese.
Perhaps the chief disadvantage of the sleeve gastrectomy is to be found in the fact that it does not always lead to the weight loss which people want and might even lead to weight regain in the longer term. This is indeed the case with any form of purely restrictive weight loss surgery but it is perhaps particularly true in the case of the vertical gastrectomy.
Because the operation requires stapling of the stomach patients are at risk of leaks and other complications which are specifically related to stapling. Also, as is the case with any surgical procedure, patients are at risk from complications including small bowel obstruction, post-surgical bleeding, pneumonia and even death. The risk of running into these complications is luckily very small and is in the region of about 0.5 and 1%. Having said this, the chance of death as a result of this form of operation at around 0 .25% is extremely small.
In general the vertical sleeve gastrectomy is most suited to patients who are either extremely overweight or whose medical condition rules out other types of weight loss surgery. In the case of the first category of patient the vertical sleeve gastrectomy would generally form the first of a two-part plan of weight loss, with additional bariatric surgery being performed once the person's weight has dropped sufficiently to permit other types of weight loss surgery to come in to play.
Donald Saunders has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health Insurance, Forex Training and Diabetes Treatment. GastricBypassFacts.info provides detailed information on the and the sleeve gastrectomy with duo. Donald Saunders's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.