Sleeve Gastrectomy

The upper and outer most stretchable portion of the stomach is removed laparoscopically, thereby considerably decreasing the capacity of the stomach from about a quart to about two to four ounces.  In other words the stomach is converted from a bag to a pipe that is roughly the size of the ring finger about six inches long. Patients generally go home the same day or within 24 hrs. Weight loss is achieved by restricting the quantity of food consumed and also by significantly reducing appetite hormone (ghrelin) production in the stomach.  Patients generally report feeling full after eating 2-4 oz of solid food.

The Sleeve Gastrectomy preserves all the important structural elements of the stomach such as the antrum, pylorus and the nerves that control stomach function, leaving a stomach that is much smaller but one that is close to the normal stomach in terms of its function.  It is ideal for patients who are busy professionals, who travel a lot, considering pregnancy, seeking weight loss in preparation for an orthopedic procedure and are averse to having a foreign body.  It is also an excellent option for patients with inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s or those on immuno-suppression or other intestinal conditions including patients with intestinal adhesions from prior abdominal surgeries.

The Sleeve Gastrectomy provides a fairly quick predictable weight loss. It allows patients to enjoy a wider variety of foods than would be typical for other weight loss surgeries. Among all the operations for weight loss it is the most “pill- friendly” operation, so patients don’t have to make major changes in their medications. Anti-inflammatory medications that are generally not recommended after weight loss surgeries are better tolerated with this operation than with any other operation. Unlike the Adjustable Gastric Band this operation does not require periodic adjustments.

Results:

	About 66% excess weight loss has been reported with this operation.
	Improvement in all the major co-morbidities such as sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and depression has been documented.
	No intestinal absorption problems.
	Patients can usually return home after surgery the same day or within 24 hours.