Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, also known as vertical sleeve gastrectomy, is a procedure that involves the removal of the outer margin of the stomach to restrict the intake of food to a certain degree. After the procedure, only the pylorus, a muscle that regulates the passage of food from the stomach into the intestine, and a sleeve of the stomach, roughly the size of a banana, are all that remain.
The procedure allows the patient to feel full after eating fewer calories. During this surgery, the part of the stomach which produces the Ghrelin hormones that cause hunger pangs is removed.
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy is a fairly simple procedure as it does not involve rerouting of or reconnection of the intestines. In contrast to the Lap-band, sleeve gastrectomy does not call for the implanting of a banding device around a part of the stomach.
For one to be considered for the procedure, they should:
Risks and complications are inevitable with any form of surgery. However, individuals who undergo the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy are usually monitored closely after the procedure to minimize these risks.
Some of the possible risks of the procedure include:
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy is performed by a bariatric surgeon using keyhole surgery under general anesthesia and takes about two hours. During the procedure, the surgeon makes several small incisions in the patient’s stomach to insert the laparoscope and other surgical tools to divide the stomach.
A smaller tube-shaped stomach is created by surgically removing the right portion of the stomach, which contains the Ghrelin hormones, and sectioning off the left half of the stomach with staples.
The new stomach is tubular in shape and has been shrunk while keeping the sphincter muscles in the upper and lower stomach.
Upon completion of the procedure, the surgeon uses dissolving sutures and sterile tape to seal the incision site to promote healing.
Some of the benefits of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure include:
LSG is a surgical weight-loss procedure in which a large portion of the stomach is removed, leaving a sleeve-shaped tube. This reduces the stomach's capacity to hold food, leading to weight loss.
LSG is usually performed using minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. The surgeon makes several small incisions in the abdomen and inserts a laparoscope, which is a small camera that allows them to see inside the abdomen. The surgeon then removes a large portion of the stomach and forms the remaining portion into a sleeve-shaped tube.
On average, patients can expect to lose around 50-60% of their excess body weight within the first two years after LSG. However, the amount of weight lost can vary depending on factors such as age, gender, initial weight, and adherence to post-operative dietary and lifestyle recommendations.
No, LSG is not reversible because a large portion of the stomach is permanently removed. However, in rare cases where there are significant complications, the surgeon may need to convert the procedure to a different weight-loss surgery or perform a revision surgery.
