Benefits of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
The gastric sleeve surgery is associated with numerous advantages, including the following:
- A significant weight loss of approximately 40-70% of excess body weight, particularly in the first year following the procedure.
- Improvement or, in some cases, complete resolution of chronic medical conditions related to obesity, such as diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea.
Complications of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery may result in various complications, which can vary in severity. These complications are categorized as follows:
Acute Complications of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Acute complications may occur within two weeks post-surgery and include:
- Bleeding: This is a potential complication of gastric sleeve surgery, with a reported occurrence rate between 1-6% for laparoscopic procedures. Internal bleeding from the staple line can mimic upper gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms in patients, such as black stools and bloody vomit. In some cases, bleeding may occur externally, either from the staple line or due to damage to the spleen, liver, or abdominal wall during surgery, leading to decreased hemoglobin levels and symptoms of low blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms.
- Staple Line Leak: This serious complication occurs in about 5% of patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery and may present with symptoms including fever, increased heart rate, and rapid breathing.
- Intra-abdominal Abscess: Abdominal abscesses are a possible complication after gastric sleeve surgery, often diagnosed via computed tomography (CT) scans. Symptoms may include chills, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Chronic Complications of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Patients may experience several long-term complications after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery, including:
- Surgical Hernia: A small bulge may develop at the surgical site months or even years following the procedure. It is noteworthy that hernias following laparoscopic surgery are less common than those resulting from open surgeries.
- Loose Skin: Due to the skin’s elasticity in individuals with obesity, excess skin may require additional surgical intervention for removal.
- Abdominal Adhesions: Scar tissue formation after gastric sleeve surgery can lead to adhesions in the abdominal cavity, potentially causing discomfort or pain during movement.
- Malnutrition: This can result from an inability to consume sufficient caloric intake or absorb the vitamins and minerals from the diet, necessitating dietary supplements for proper nutrition.
- Late Staple Line Leak: This may occur months or years postoperatively, requiring medical treatment, hospitalization, or even additional surgery to address the issue.
- Increased Risk of Health Issues: Patients may face a higher likelihood of developing various health conditions such as gastric obstruction, peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and gallstones.
- Other Complications: These can include:
- Regaining lost weight.
- Ongoing or recurring issues with diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic illnesses, even after temporary resolution post-surgery.
- Nausea, diarrhea, and indigestion.
- Difficulties rehabilitating part of the stomach in the event of complications or digestive issues.
- An inability to ingest desired food quantities due to the reduced stomach size.