Sleeve Gastrectomy
Sleeve gastrectomy is one of the bariatric surgery procedures performed by the laparoscopic method and is generally preferred in the treatment of obesity.
During the laparoscopy procedure, incisions are made in the upper abdomen, and small instruments called laparoscopes are inserted. During sleeve gastrectomy surgery, approximately 80% of the patient’s stomach is removed. The stomach left is a narrow tube, banana-formed.
Limiting the size of the stomach is also restricting the amount of food that can be consumed. In addition, this procedure causes some hormonal changes that support weight loss. In this way, it is possible to prevent obesity-related problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery: Who Can Be Good Candidates?
Candidates who want to have sleeve gastrectomy surgery are generally people who have obesity problems and aim to lose weight. Besides; it can also be preferred in the treatment of serious diseases such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, sleep apnea, type-2 diabetes, stroke, and cancer.
It is expected that the patient who aims to lose weight should not have obtained results with diet and exercise. Gastric sleeve surgery is more likely to be applied to patients with a body mass index of 40 or higher.
It is not recommended for candidates to consider sleeve gastrectomy surgery as a sure cure. For a completely successful process, radical changes in lifestyle may be required along with the surgery.
How Is Sleeve Gastrectomy Performed?
Sleeve gastrectomy is performed under general anesthesia at the hospital. The patient may need medical observation for a day or two after surgery. The scope of the surgery varies according to the patient’s health condition. Surgeries, which are usually performed laparoscopically, may require large incisions in some cases.
During gastric sleeve surgery, the surgeon staples the stomach vertically. The remaining part of the stomach is in the form of a narrow tube as mentioned before. The entire operation can take an average of 2 hours.
Post-Gastric Sleeve Surgery
After the sleeve gastrectomy surgery, the patient is given a special diet to follow. This diet consists of sugar-free and non-carbonated liquid foods, especially during the first week. Within 3 weeks, it’s possible to eat pureed foods, and after that, can return to normal foods. The patient may need to take a multivitamin, calcium, and B12 supplements for a long time after surgery.
In the process following the surgery, the patient is frequently called for follow-up examinations and necessary laboratory tests.
With the effects of sleeve gastrectomy surgery, the patient may begin the weight-loss period. It is known that 50% of excess weight can be lost with a healthy lifestyle.