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Important Information On Gastric Sleeve Surgery Houston Patients Need To Have

By Jessica Wood


There are several options of weight loss that one can consider if they wish to shed off extra pounds. Lifestyle changes are the most commonly used approach but surgical options appear to be gaining preference as well. The methods that are most commonly used include gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass. There are some important things on gastric sleeve surgery Houston residents need to know if they plan on having this procedure.

Sleeve gastrectomy can be performed in isolation or as the initial procedure in bypass surgery. This operation involves the removal of a large section of the stomach (as much as 80%) so as to leave a small sleeve-shaped pouch whose capacity is just a fraction of the original. An incision is made along the vertical axis and after removal of the section, closure is done using stitches or staples.

The objective of performing this operation is to reduce the amount of food that an individual can consume in one sitting. With the small stomach size, there is faster filling and hence early satiety. The removal of a large section also means that the amount of gastric hormones that are released from the stomach lining will be markedly reduced. Appetite is thus reduced and the levels of glucose in the blood maintained within fairly normal ranges.

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.

Surgery is emerging as a popular option of weight loss. The options that may be used when this option is chosen include sleeve gastrectomy, banding and bypass. Apart from your own preference, the skill and preference of your surgeon and the degree of your problem determine the type of operation to be used. Gastrectomy usually achieves desired results but has a downside in that it cannot be reversed.




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