This is a restrictive procedure. The stomach is reduced in size from a sac shape to a tube that holds around 150ml. It involves removal of over ¾ of the stomach, which is divided with a special stapling device. It used to be the first stage of the BPD bypass procedure but has been performed as a stand alone procedure for over 5 years. The operation significantly reduces hunger by reducing levels of the hormone “Ghrelin” which is predominantly produced in the upper stomach and is removed during this procedure.
Advantages
- Keyhole surgery, usually takes just over 1 hour and requires 3-4 days in hospital
- No adjustments required
- No foreign material to get infected or leak
- No fixed obstruction for food to get stuck
- Normal dietary intake by the majority of patients
- No malabsorption
- Significantly safer than Bypass surgery
- More effective and better tolerated than Gastric Banding
- Reliable – provided you follow a sensible diet and exercise regularly then good results are expected
- Low risk of requiring further surgery
Disadvantages
- Not reversible (however most people considering weight loss surgery are after a permanent solution)
- Risk of leakage from the staple line (<1%) in the first 2 weeks is a major potential complication, which may require further surgery and intensive care
Effectiveness
- 60-70% average excess weight loss (EWL) at 1 year
Current Status
- Sleeve gastrectomy is the main recommended and most popular procedure for weight loss at Upper GI West
- Suitable as both a primary or revisional procedure in most patients
- Upper GI West has performed over 450 procedures in the last 4 years
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