Sleeve Gastrectomy in Mumbai
The sleeve gastrectomy originated as the restrictive part of the duodenal switch operation. In the last several years, it has also been used as a staging procedure prior to a gastric bypass or duodenal switch in very high risk patients. It has also been used as a primary, stand-alone procedure.
How is sleeve gastrectomy performed?
Most sleeve gastrectomies performed today are performed laparoscopically. This involves making five or six small incisions in the abdomen and performing the procedure using a video camera (laparoscope) and long instruments that are placed through these small incisions.
Sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive form of operation in which approximately 2/3rd of the left side of the stomach is removed laparoscopically using endoscopic staplers. The stomach thus takes the shape of a hockey stick or sleeve. It can be performed as either first stage of a two-stage procedure for super obese patients (BMI >60) where it can be followed with malabsorptive surgery or as a single stage procedure by itself.
The capacity of the stomach ranges between 60 – 100 cc. Unlike many other forms of bariatric surgery, the outlet valve and the nerves of the stomach remain intact and only the stomach size is drastically reduced. Though a non-reversible procedure, the part of the stomach that contains Ghrelin, the hormone for hunger is removed; it drastically reduces your appetite and hormones that controls diabetes.
The hour glass configuration only constricts the upper stomach thus acting as a pure restrictive operation. Since the outlet is small, food stays in the pouch longer and one also feels satiated for a longer time. Scheduled follow-up visits will be at 6 weeks, monthly for the first six months and yearly thereafter or as and when medically required.
Who should have a sleeve gastrectomy?
This operation has been used successfully for many different types of bariatric patients.
In patients who undergo LSG as a first stage procedure, the second stage (gastric bypass) is performed 12 to 18 months later after significant weight-loss has occurred, the liver has decreased in size and the risk of anesthesia is much lower. Though this approach involves two procedures, we believe it a safe and effective strategy for selected high-risk patients.
Indications are:
- Presence of serious sequelae of morbid obesity
- 30 kg overweight or BMI > 32 with co-morbidities
- BMI > 35 with or without co-morbidities
- Large volume eaters
Sleeve gastrectomy may be performed for the following reasons:
- Body Mass Index is greater than 60
- Severe comorbidities (cardiac, pulmonary, liver disease)
- Advanced age
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease)
- Need to continue specific medications (anti-inflammatory medicines, transplant medications)
- Need for continued surveillance of the stomach (that couldn’t be evaluated after a gastric bypass)
- Severely enlarged liver found during the operation
- Severe adhesions (scarring) to the bowel found during the operation
- Any combination of the above that significantly increases the patient’s risk
Merits
- Preservation of stomach function
- No disconnection of normal anatomy
- Technically simpler with 3 days hospital stay
- Most food can be consumed, albeit in small amount
- No dumping syndrome or nutritional deficiency
- Assures 60 – 70% excess weight loss
- Best for the reproductive age group
- Improvement in associated co-morbidities
- Appealing option for people not fit for malabsorptive or combined procedures
- Follow-up after 6 weeks and 6 months, further once a year.
How does the sleeve gastrectomy cause weight-loss?
Sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive procedure. It greatly reduces the size of the stomach and limits the amount of food that can be eaten at one time. It does not cause decreased absorption of nutrients or bypass the intestines. After this surgery, patients feel full after eating very small amounts of food. Sleeve gastrectomy may also cause a decrease in appetite. In addition to reducing the size of the stomach, the procedure reduces the amount of the “hunger hormone,” ghrelin, produced by the stomach. The duration of this effect is not clear yet, but most patients have significantly decreased hunger after the operation.
How much weight-loss occurs after LSG?
Several studies have documented excellent weight-loss up to three years after LSG.
What are the risks of sleeve gastrectomy?
The risk of major post-operative complications after LSG is 5-10 percent, which is less than the risk associated with gastric bypass or malabsorptive procedures such as duodenal switch. This is primarily because the small intestine is not divided and reconnected during LSG as it is during the bypass procedures. This lower risk and shorter operative time is the main reason we use it as a staging procedure for high-risk patients.
Complications that can occur after LSG include a leak from the sleeve resulting in an infection or abscess, deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, narrowing of the sleeve (stricture) requiring endoscopic dilation and bleeding. Major complications requiring re-operation are uncommon after sleeve gastrectomy.
