Gastric sleeve surgery is one of the most frequently performed procedures in obesity surgery. Gastric sleeve surgery, which reduces obesity-related risks by providing a strong weight loss, also improves the patient’s quality of life in a short time.
What is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Gastric Sleeve Surgery, medically known as ‘Sleeve Gastrectomy’, is popularly known as stomach reduction surgery and is one of the most popular surgical procedures performed worldwide. Gastric sleeve surgery is the surgical transformation of the stomach into a tube. It is not possible to insert a foreign object into the abdomen as in gastric band surgery. The purpose here is; By reducing the feeling of hunger, patients eat less and lose weight.
Is Gastric Reduction Surgery Dangerous?
‘Sleeve Gastrectomy’, also known as sleeve gastrectomy, has some risks, as with all major surgical operations. The risk factor posed by the surgery varies depending on the patient’s age and weight. The risk of complications after surgery is generally between 3 and 5 percent. These are infection, pneumonia and bleeding. In such cases, immediate intervention is required by a surgical team without delay. Risks such as fatty liver, kidney diseases, diabetes or high blood pressure are minimized in people who have sleeve gastrectomy surgery.
The adaptation process to the gastric sleeve is generally better than gastric banding and bypass. Side effects of stomach reduction surgery; It is less than gastric bypass and larger surgeries. The postoperative period is more comfortable thanks to laparoscopic surgery. Weight loss will begin in patients as the feeling of hunger decreases. After a week, patients can return to their normal work. For those who have heavy work, the restriction lasts until the 3rd week after the surgery. In the first 1 and a half year after the surgery, the patient loses approximately 80 percent of his excess weight. Most of this weight is lost within the first four months.
How Does Gastric Sleeve Surgery Show Its Effect?
Gastric sleeve surgery, which is an effective surgical method for safe weight loss for patients with high Body Mass Index (BMI) and high risk, is the process of removing a large part of the stomach body. During the operation, the part of the stomach that stretches and expands the most and controls appetite is removed. This surgery aims to reduce the amount of food consumed by reducing the stomach volume. Since the natural flow of the digestive system is not interfered with, digestion and absorption continue normally after gastric sleeve surgery.
How much weight is lost after gastric sleeve surgery?
After sleeve gastrectomy surgery; Depending on the patient’s changing eating habits, it is generally aimed to lose 70 – 80 percent of the excess weight.
After Sleeve Gastrectomy, the patient loses excess weight;
First 3 months; 35 – 40%,
First 6 months; 50 – 60%,
In the first year, he can reach his target lowest weight by losing 60 – 70%.
How is Gastric Sleeve Surgery Performed?
Gastric sleeve surgery; It is a type of surgery performed using laparoscopic methods under general anesthesia. For this reason, the patient’s consciousness remains closed during the surgery. In the operation performed under general anesthesia, the surgeon performs the treatment by sending the camera and treatment tools to the abdominal area through 0.5 cm holes opened in the patient’s abdomen. Gastric sleeve surgery is the practice of entering the abdomen laparoscopically and removing 75 – 80 percent of the stomach. During the operation, which takes approximately 1 hour, a small tube is placed inside the stomach, thus preserving the thinness of the stomach. Hospitalization period is 2 or 3 days.
Will There Be Much Pain After the Surgery?
All major surgical procedures involve some degree of pain. However, pain is minimal in laparoscopic procedures. Since there is less pain due to small incisions, the healing process is also quite fast.
What is the Follow-Up Process After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
As with all other methods of obesity surgery, the success rate in sleeve gastrectomy surgery increases directly with strict post-operative controls. Therefore, your first check-up is performed by your doctor approximately 10 days after the surgery. In this first check-up, clues about the early complications of the surgery will be investigated and it will be determined whether post-operative nutrition and other life functions are normal.
Your routine checks will be carried out in your 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th months. During these checks, blood tests and sugar, insulin, liver enzymes, kidney function tests, vitamin and mineral levels are checked. If any deficiency is detected, special supportive treatments are started.
Who is Suitable for Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
According to the criteria of the World Association of Obesity and Metabolism Surgery (IFSO), sleeve gastrectomy surgery is not recommended for people under the age of 35 unless absolutely necessary.It is not done. It is also a very important factor that the person does not have diabetes. Those who benefit from this surgery are generally people who consume a lot of pastries, alcohol and fatty foods and therefore gain a lot of weight.
In what cases is gastric sleeve surgery not performed?
Since sleeve gastrectomy surgery is a serious operation that affects the person’s entire immune system, the patient’s general health history must first be thoroughly scanned and evaluated. Patients for whom gastric sleeve surgery is not suitable;
Psychological problems and mental instability,
Having drug or harmful substance addictions,
Anesthesia application poses a major risk factor,
The patient does not have a realistic perspective,
These are listed as the patient’s lack of physical and psychological support after the surgery and the patient’s eating disorders such as bulimia cannot be controlled.
What are the advantages of Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
The most important gain in sleeve gastrectomy surgery; There is no change in the natural path of the digestive system. The main advantages of sleeve gastrectomy surgery:
Due to the decrease in stomach volume, satiety is achieved with less food.
By removing Ghrelin, known as the hunger hormone, the desire to eat decreases.
Since no procedure is performed on the intestines, there are no risks such as bleeding, leakage and obstruction.
It takes less time than other obesity surgeries and takes approximately 1 hour.
The hospital stay after surgery is quite short.
There is no foreign object placed in the body.
Since absorption is not interfered with, vitamin and mineral deficiencies occur less frequently.
The amount of portions that can be eaten has decreased compared to before the surgery.
What are the Disadvantages of Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
The main disadvantages of sleeve gastrectomy surgery:
Since a large part of the stomach has been destroyed, it is not possible for the stomach to return to its original state.
Some patients may experience increased reflux after surgery.
Gastric sleeve surgery is not the first choice for patients with hiatal hernia.
When preferred in patients with a sweet tooth, the possibility of gaining weight is higher than intestinal-related operations.
After the operation, patients must be fed liquids for a while.
What are the Prices of Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
There are several factors that determine the price of gastric sleeve surgery, which is an obesity surgery technique that reduces stomach volume through laparoscopic surgery. For this reason, it is very important to choose a well-equipped hospital for complications that may occur after sleeve gastrectomy surgery. In addition, the length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit after the surgery is among the main factors affecting the price of sleeve gastrectomy surgery.
THINGS TO CONSIDER AFTER GASTRIC REDUCTION SURGERY
In order for sleeve gastrectomy surgery to be fully effective, it is extremely important for the patient to stick to the diet program, pay attention to their nutrition, and take vitamin and mineral supplements regularly when necessary.
How to Eat After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
In the success of sleeve gastrectomy surgery, it is of great importance that the patient not only adopts the new lifestyle, but also complies with the diet program created in cooperation with metabolism and endocrinology specialists and, if necessary, regularly uses nutritional, vitamin and mineral supplements. For this reason, nutrition and lifestyle changes after sleeve gastrectomy surgery are among the most important factors. The main rules to be considered in nutrition after gastric sleeve surgery are as follows.
Carbonated drinks are prohibited for life.
After gastric sleeve surgery, liquid nutrition is required, especially for the first 14 days.
Liquid and solid foods should never be consumed at the same time.
Salad consisting of vegetables and greens, fruits and nuts should definitely not be neglected in the diet.
Foods high in animal or vegetable protein should be consumed.
Care should be taken to eat at least 3 main meals and 2 snacks a day.
What should be the diet after gastric sleeve surgery?
After gastric sleeve surgery, patients are generally asked to avoid low-fat foods and fried foods. Carbonated drinks and alcohol, especially refined sugar, should be strictly avoided.
WHAT IS THE NUTRITION PROCESS AFTER THE SURGERY?
Immediately After Surgery: A clear liquid diet is followed for at least one week after gastric sleeve surgery. During this period, water, tea, fruit teas and soup with broth can be consumed.
One Week After Surgery: The patient is not allowed to eat soft and solid food for a week after the surgery. Solid foods may cause the stapler line to open and leak after surgery. During this period, liquid foods, low-calorie and low-fat soups, jellies and protein drinks can be taken. Care should be taken to ensure that the liquid foods consumed are low-calorie and fat-free.
2 – 4 Weeks After Surgery: Patients should only consume pureed foods during this period due to the risk of separation at the staple line . Excessive food intake may cause pain and vomiting. Pureed meat, potatoes and all kinds of fruit purees can be consumed 2 – 4 weeks after the surgery. Consuming carbonated drinks is strictly prohibited after surgery.
4 -5 Weeks After Surgery: The patient can switch to soft foods during this period. There should be at least 4 – 5 hours between meals and each meal should be consumed in a minimum of 30 minutes.
4 Months After Surgery: The patient gradually and regularly transitions to a normal diet; can consume meat, eggs, vegetables and legumes. For the first 2 years after surgery, the diet should be restricted to 600 – 800 calories. Most of the excess weight will be lost within the first year. After sufficient weight loss is observed, the number of calories can be increased to 1000 – 1200.
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS OF GASTRIC REDUCTION SURGERY?
Leak: The stomach remaining from the tissue cut out in the surgery in question is closed with the help of stapler. Any openness, breakage or leakage that exists or may occur in the stapler line is called a leak. Even if the risk of leakage is 1 percent or lower, it can make the patient seriously ill and reach dangerous levels.
Gastroesophageal Reflux: Gastroesophageal reflux is a condition in which stomach contents leak back into the esophagus. Acids and stomach secretions can cause irritation in the esophagus. This causes an uncomfortable complaint that can be characterized by a burning sensation behind the chest wall, known as heartburn.
Gastric Fistula: A gastrointestinal fistula is an abnormal opening in your digestive tract that allows gastric juices to leak into the lining of your stomach or intestines. When this leaks into your skin or other organs, it can cause infection.
Stoma Stenosis: Stomach reduction surgery may cause stenosis in passage. Stoma is a term that describes the passage between the stomach and intestines. A second surgery may be required to correct this condition.
Surgical Hernias: Surgical hernias may develop in approximately 15 percent of cases. This risk is extremely low in laparoscopic surgeries.
Vitamin and Mineral Absorption: A long-term complication of gastric sleeve surgery is vitamin and mineral malabsorption. This situation can cause serious deficiencies.
