Weight-loss Surgery: Gastric Sleeve
| Date Posted: 3/7/2013 | Author: Mandy McCue
Located in the heart of North Carolina, FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital’s Bariatric team specializes in three types weight-loss surgeries. In previous blog posts, we have discussed the Gastric Bypass and Adjustable Gastric Banding procedures, today we will dive deeper into the Gastric Sleeve. 
What is it? A sleeve gastrectomy, also referred to as the gastric sleeve procedure, is restrictive surgery that removes 85% of the stomach. This procedure is helpful for patients who have health conditions that make restrictive/malabsorptive surgeries, such as gastric bypass, unsafe.
Like all bariatric surgeries there are certain requirements. The gastric sleeve weight-loss surgery requirements are:
- Must be between the ages of 18 and 60
- Must have a Body Mass Index of 40 or higher
Or
- Must have a Body Mass Index of 35 with other obesity related conditions such has diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea etc.
Are you a candidate for weight-loss surgery? Check your BMI*
Procedure Note: Before deciding to have weight-loss surgery, you should discuss your medical conditions and any medication you are currently taking with your doctor.
The gastric sleeve procedure is a laparoscopic procedure where surgeons use staples to divide the stomach. The majority of the stomach is removed leaving a small sleeve shaped “new stomach”. There is no malabsorption or risk of dumping syndrome since the procedure does not reroute your digestive system. Within a year after the procedure it is common to have seen 30-60 percentage of excess weight lost. After initial weight-loss the procedure way be followed by gastric bypass for greater results for extremely obese patients.
After the Procedure The hospital stay after a gastric sleeve procedure is commonly 1 day. Once you return home it is important to live an adjusted lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a restricted diet. For the first three days after surgery, patients cannot eat any solid food as they need time for the digestive track to heal. After the first few days, patients can transfer to soft foods for a few weeks and eventually to solid foods. Full recovery will happen within six weeks.
Risk Factors All weight-loss surgery options involve some type of risk and it is important to learn and understand all risks before deciding procedure is right for you. The risks for a gastric sleeve procedure include the following:
- Stretching of pouch
- Nausea
- Hair loss
- Constipation
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Leakage may occur at the site of stapling
If you are experience any of these complications you should speak with your doctor right away.
FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in partnership with Pinehurst Surgical offers treatment, support, and weight-loss tools to patients in the Pinehurst, Raeford, Sanford, Lumberton, Laurinburg, Rockingham, and Troy regions of North Carolina and beyond. No weight-loss surgery is a quick fix. All procedures require a lifestyle change in order to be successful.
