Basics Related To Gastric Sleeve Surgery Houston Clients Should Know

By Jessica Wood


There are many options that can be used in losing weight. One of the methods that has gained a lot of popularity in recent times is weight-loss surgery. Examples of surgical procedures that may be conducted include sleeve gastrectomy, bypass surgery and gastric banding. Each of these procedures has associated advantages and disadvantages. If they have plans of having gastric sleeve surgery Houston patients need to understand a number of things.

The sleeve gastrectomy operation may be done in isolation or may be the first stage of the more aggressive bypass procedure. To perform it, an incision is first made along the length of the stomach. A large part (between 75% and 90%) is removed which effectively converts the stomach into a tubular or sleeve-shaped organ. The next step is to close the incision area using staples or sutures.

The idea of the operation just as is the case with most weight loss operations is to limit the amount of food that the individual undergoing it can eat. The small stomach volume results in faster filling and stimulation of early satiety. Additionally, the removal of a significant stomach portion influences the production of digestive enzymes. The resultant changes suppress the appetite and maintain a high blood glucose levels.

Most of the people who undergo the operation have impressive outcomes. The proportion of excessive weight lost within 6 months to one year approaches 50% if it is done successfully. This effect is similar to what would be achieved with gastric bypass but the advantage is that the unpleasant side effects of bypass are avoided. Another major advantage of gastrectomy is that the stomach innervation is spared and so are the valve mechanisms.

When performing gastrectomy, the surgeon will use one of two techniques: the open or the laparoscopic option. The laparoscopic option is the more popular option due to several reasons. One of this reasons is the fact that it requires smaller surgical cut than those that are used during the open operation. As a result, the scars so produced are smaller. The pain is less and so is the risk of infection after surgery.

A potential candidate for this operation is an individual who has tried losing weight through lifestyle changes but has been unsuccessful. They should ideally have a body mass index of more than 40. If they are already suffering from obesity-related complications such as cardiac disease, sleep apnea and hypertension, a lower value of the index is acceptable. There should be no major risks to this operation.

As is the case with many other surgeries, there are several risks associated with this operation. General complications may include bleeding, injury to vital structures and infections. More specific complications may include esophageal spasms, leakage of gastric contents and long term dilatation of the stomach. Fortunately, the dilation occurs very slowly and is rarely a cause for concern. It is important to mention that the sleeve procedure cannot be reversed even in the presence of severe complications.

If you are considering bariatric surgery as a weight loss option, there several options that you can choose from. These include gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and banding. Surgeon preference and the magnitude of your problem are some of the factors likely to influence your decision. The gastrectomy procedure is quite effective but has huge disadvantage in that it cannot be reversed.




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