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What is Sleeve Gastrectomy?
Sleeve gastrectomy is a weight loss procedure where the stomach is made smaller by surgical removal to form a slim “sleeve.” Patients can eat only small amounts of food, resulting in weight loss. A sleeve gastrectomy is often followed by duodenal switch surgery or a gastric bypass.
How is Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure carried out?
- The surgeon uses a laparoscope to guide small instruments which divide the stomach vertically along the inside curve.
- The surgeon attaches the open edges of the stomach with staples to form a sleeve or banana shape.
- This reduces the size of the stomach by around 75 percent.
Who is a suitable candidate for the Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure?
Sleeve gastrectomy is suitable for patients who are obese. However, extremely obese patients may not be suitable candidates.
What are the chances of success with Sleeve Gastrectomy?
Many patients lose between 30 and 50 percent of their excess weight in the first year following the sleeve gastrectomy procedure.
If not enough weight is lost with the gastric sleeve procedure, a duodenal switch surgery is carried out.
Duration of procedure/surgery:The sleeve gastrectomy procedure takes around 1 hour to complete.
Days admitted:The gastric sleeve procedure requires a hospital stay of 2 to 3 nights.
Anesthesia:General anesthesia
Recovery:The recovery time following a gastric sleeve procedure is around 2 to 3 weeks.
Risks:- Infection and bleeding.
- Adverse reaction to the anesthesia.
- Marginal ulcers.
- Deep vein thrombosis.
- Malnutrition or other nutritional problems.
After care:- Take painkillers to manage pain and discomfort in the abdomen.
- Wear compression pads or stockings following the sleeve gastrectomy to prevent deep vein thrombosis.
- Drink only water in the first 24 hours following sleeve gastrectomy and follow this with a liquid diet for the next week.
- You will only be able to eat small amounts of food and must chew your food slowly when eating.
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