The sleeve procedure for weight loss is a bariatric procedure usually referred to as a sleeve, or vertical, gastrectomy. It is generally recommended only for those patients who meet the criteria for obesity or who are very overweight and suffering from weight-related medical disorders, such as diabetes or hypertension. Consult your doctor to determine if the sleeve procedure is appropriate for your situation.
Significance
The sleeve procedure is a newer type of weight loss surgery for obesity that offers you the opportunity to lose weight quickly, even when dieting and other weight loss methods have failed. Obesity is a serious health risk that dramatically increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea, gallbladder and liver disease and certain types of cancer, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. According to Columbia University Medical Center, most patients who undergo the sleeve procedure lose at least 30 percent of their excess weight within 12 months.
Features
During a sleeve procedure, a significant portion of your stomach is removed laparoscopically, sometimes as much as 85 percent, and a tubular pouch is created along your stomach's lesser curve. Because this pouch is only able to hold a small amount of food at one time, you will eat less and lose weight. There is no bypass of your intestines and your stomach's nerves remain intact following the procedure, decreasing your risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The sleeve procedure is irreversible.
Benefits
According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the benefits of a sleeve procedure may result from neurohormonal changes associated with gastric emptying, gastric restriction or unknown factors. Rates of weight loss and improvement in high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and sleep apnea are similar to those of other gastric restrictive procedures, and because the sleeve procedure does not require foreign objects to be left inside your body, your risk of infection is generally lower with a sleeve procedure than with gastric bypass.
Considerations
The sleeve procedure was originally designed to be the first half of a two-part operation. Because many patients experience an adequate degree of weight loss after the initial procedure, however, a follow-up operation sometimes becomes unnecessary, states Dr. Dan Jones of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. If you do not lose enough weight, you may require a second procedure, such as a duodenal switch or gastric bypass surgery.
According to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, most insurance companies refuse to cover the sleeve procedure, which limits its availability.
Warnings
Like all major operations, the sleeve procedure poses some risk. One of the biggest risks is the development of a leak in the pouch. If a leak occurs, a drainage tube or corrective surgery may be necessary to prevent tissue damage and infection caused by leaking stomach acids. Smoking increases the risk of pneumonia, infections and blood clots and may delay healing following bariatric surgery.
References
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: Updated Position Statement on Sleeve Gastrectomy as a Bariatric Procedure
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center: New Procedure: The Sleeve
- Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery: Gastric Sleeve Surgery
- National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Do You Know the Health Risks of Being Overweight?
- Columbia University Medical Center: Gastric Sleeve
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