Gastric sleeve, also called vertical sleeve gastrectomy, is a weight loss surgery performed to help the obese reduce weight and improve their overall health. It is often done macroscopically, with a few small incisions in the abdominal wall and a portion of the stomach removed. The remainder of the stomach is then stapled and sealed, the end result being a stomach that will hold a much smaller amount of food than previous to the surgery. Some side effects have been reported.
Lifestyle Changes
Although reducing the size of the stomach is one of the primary goals of gastric sleeve surgery, there are also negative side effects to having this done. The stomach will hold only about 3 oz. of food total at any one time and will be the size of a walnut, greatly limiting what you can and can’t eat, according to the Mayo Clinic. Significant lifestyle changes are required after this or any obesity surgery. Small, frequent meals and not drinking with meals, large amounts of vitamins taken repeatedly throughout the day, high cost of supplements needed for proper nutrition required, and elimination of many favorite foods are required for the rest of your life to maintain your weight loss and overall health.
Acid Reflux, GERD and Vomiting
Acid reflux, vomiting, extreme pain and esophageal spasms are all possible due to the small size of your stomach and the difficulty you may have in changing your eating habits to accommodate your new stomach. Symptoms of GERD and reflux are especially common, and if you have these conditions before surgery they may worsen afterward.
Dumping Syndrome
Those who go through the gastric sleeve surgery are less likely to develop dumping syndrome, also called rapid gastric emptying, due to still having the pyloric valve remaining at the lower end of the stomach, but there is still a significant chance that some painful dumping may occur. Dumping syndrome happens when too much food is eaten too quickly and it moves through the stomach at a rapid pace, “dumping” into the intestine undigested, according to the NYU Langone Medical Center. Symptoms are nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping and diarrhea.
Diarrhea
Frequent bouts of greasy, foul-smelling diarrhea are also part of the unpleasant side effects of gastric sleeve surgery, especially if it is accompanied by the duodenal switch. This allows most of the fats eaten to bypass being absorbed and head directly to the colon for elimination undigested.
Cancer and Esophagus Problems
Because the excess portion of the stomach is completely removed from the body after being cut, nothing remains in the event that problems with the esophagus develop. In the event a portion of your esophagus or stomach develops cancer, there is no stomach tissue left after portions of the cancerous tissue are removed.
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