Exactly How Does The Sleeve Gastrectomy Form Of Weight Loss Surgery Work? - By: Don Saunders

As obesity continues to rise in many Western countries morbid obesity surgery has become an everyday and routine type of surgery in most medical facilities.

The vertical sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive method of weight loss surgery in which approximately 85% of the stomach is surgically removed leaving a cylindrical or sleeve shaped stomach with a substantially reduced capacity ranging from about 60 to 150 cc. Unlike the majority of other types of obesity surgery, the outlet valve and the nerves to the stomach remain in place and, though the stomach is considerably reduced in size, its function is unaltered. Further, unlike other types of weight loss surgery such as the time honored Roux-en-Y gastric bypass the vertical sleeve gastrectomy cannot be reversed.

Because the newly fashioned stomach continues to function as normal there are many fewer restrictions when it comes to the foods that patients can eat following surgery, even though the quantity of food consumed will be very much reduced. Many patients view this as one of the main advantages of the vertical sleeve gastrectomy, as is the fact that the removal of the majority of the stomach also causes the effective elimination of the hormones that are produced within the stomach and that stimulate hunger.

probably the biggest advantage of the vertical gastrectomy is to be found in the fact that it does not bypass the intestines and patients do not therefore experience the complications of intestinal bypass such as osteoporosis, anemia, intestinal obstruction and protein deficiency. It also means that it is a suitable type of surgery for individuals who are already suffering from anemia, Crohn's disease and a variety of other conditions that would put them at risk for intestinal bypass surgery.

Lastly, it is one of the few types of weight loss surgery that can be performed laparoscopically in people who are extremely overweight.

Possibly the chief disadvantage of the sleeve gastrectomy lies in the fact that it does not always create the weight loss that individuals would wish for and may result in weight regain in the longer term. This is indeed the case with any type of solely restrictive weight loss surgery though it is perhaps especially true of the vertical gastrectomy.

Because the operation requires the stomach to be stapled individuals do run the risk from leaks and of other complications that are directly related to stapling. Furthermore, as with any operation, individuals run the risk of additional complications such as small bowel obstruction, post-surgical bleeding, pneumonia and even death. The risk of running into any of these complications is luckily extremely small and is in the region of about 0.5 and 1%. Having said this, the chance of dying as a result of this type of surgery at around 0 .25% is very small indeed.

Generally speaking the sleeve gastrectomy is most suited to people who are either especially overweight or whose health rules out other types of weight loss surgery. In the case of the first category the sleeve gastrectomy would usually form the first of a two-part plan of weight loss, with further bariatric surgery being undertaken once the person's weight has dropped enough to allow other types of surgery to be carried out.

About the Author

GastricBypassFacts.info provides detailed information on the sleeve gastrectomy and the sleeve gastrectomy with duodenal switch including detail of the duodenum function and the role of the jejunum tubes

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