I was never asked to consider a sleeve as an option when I had my surgery almost 7 years ago. I did however go on to meet several sleeve patients at one of my support group meetings and we discussed the differences in the surgical option and wondered what differences we might encounter longer term. At the time there weren’t any long-term studies that I knew of to look at nor much published information on outcomes. Now there’s so much more and the procedure seems to have grown enormously in popularity to become the number one procedure worldwide.
I’m very happy with the outcome of my bypass and can discuss in great detail the pros and cons of the bypass compared to the band. Here now is some up to date information about the sleeve for those who are considering it or scheduled for such surgery ….
Why is Gastric Sleeve the No 1 Procedure Worldwide?
A look at why Gastric Sleeve has surpassed Gastric Bypass and become the number one procedure worldwide.
A number of surgical options are available for the treatment of obesity. The most common bariatric surgery procedures are gastric bypass, gastric sleeve (sleeve gastrectomy), and adjustable gastric band.
Bariatric surgical procedures cause weight loss by restricting the amount of food your stomach can hold, resulting in weight loss, or by a combination of both gastric restriction and malabsorption which additionally removes or bypasses parts of your digestive tract, making it also harder for your body to absorb calories. Most weight loss surgeries are performed using minimally invasive techniques.
Which weight-loss surgery is the most popular now?
Over time the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become the most popular bariatric operation world wide¹. This is thought to be due to its effectiveness, safety and its numerous advantages.
The gastric sleeve surpasses the laparoscopic gastricbypass, which was previously the most common procedure. Gastric bypass appears to remain the most popular operation among patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Each weight loss surgery has a place in the treatment of obesity and related diseases. The decision as to which one is right for you is based on a careful evaluation of the risks and benefits of each procedure, your health and your weight loss goals. Your bariatric surgeon will discuss with you the most appropriate weight loss surgery options for you.
Gastric sleeve surgery
Also known as sleeve gastrectomy, makes the stomach approximately 75 percent smaller. The remaining stomach is a tubular pouch the size and shape of a banana. This limits the amount of food you can eat and makes you feel fuller sooner after eating small amounts of food which leads to reduced calorie intake and ultimately weight loss.
History of the gastric sleeve
Gastric sleeve surgery is one of the newest types of weight loss surgery to treat severe obesity. Historically, it was used as the first step in a two staged obesity treatment. It was found that some patients lost enough weight with a sleeve gastrectomy alone and that the second stage of the operation was not required.
The emergence of the gastric sleeve as a primary procedure has resulted in a shift in the world of bariatric surgery.
How does gastric sleeve surgery work?
Gastric sleeve works through two highly efficient weight loss mechanisms. On the one hand, it makes the stomach smaller so that patient consumes a lesser amount of food. It also removes the fundus part of stomach which affects the action of the hunger stimulating hormone called ghrelin. With the removal of ghrelin’s action, a person feels less hungry which in turn leads to reduced calorie intake and thus promotes weight loss.
Who is a candidate for gastric sleeve surgery?
One of the beauties of sleeve gastrectomy surgery is that it’s widely applicable to almost everyone looking for a surgical operation to help them in their weight loss journey.
Why has gastric sleeve has become so popular
Gastric sleeve surgery offers numerous advantages which include:
* Induces rapid and significant weight loss that comparative studies find similar to that of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Gastric sleeve patients will lose around 60 percent of their excess weight².
* Promotes weight loss by restricting the amount of food you can consume at any one time.
* Reduces your appetite and enhances satiety as i tremoves the part of your stomach that produces the effect of the hunger stimulating hormone ghrelin.
* Typical maintenance of greater than 50 per cent excess weight loss³.
* Digestion isn’t re-routed and intestines are left in place, so digestion occurs normally and post-operative nutritional deficiencies are minimal.
* Dumping syndrome isn’t likely to occur as your stomach outlet called the pyloric valve remains intact, unlike with gastric bypass surgery.
* Does not require a gastric band being implanted into the body or adjustments or fills as with gastric bands.
* Can usually be performed laparoscopically even on extremely obese patients.
* Highly effective in improving or curing obesity related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It can also be safer than a combined restrictive and malabsorptive weight loss surgery for patients with these health problems.
* May be converted to gastric bypass or duodenal switch if necessary for additional weight loss.
* Less chance of developing ulcers than with gastric bypass surgery.
* Involves a relatively short hospital stay of approximately two days.
* Often a cheaper weight loss surgery option than gastric bypass surgery.
References
¹ http://www.ifso.com/sleeve-gastrectomy
² http://www.obesityaction.org/educational-resources/resource-articles-2/weight-loss-surgery/choosing-the-right-weight-loss-surgery-procedure
³ https://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-procedures
Feature courtesy of Ramsay Weight Loss
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