Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

About Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy offers a lower-risk and greatly beneficial surgical option for the severely obese. Many doctors prefer laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy over gastric banding because it doesn't involve the insertion of foreign articles into a patient's body. For patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 and over, gastric bypass or duodenal switch surgeries can be too risky due to the potential for serious complications. The less invasive process of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy makes it a far better choice for higher-risk patients, with a better success rate and quicker recovery time.

An important aspect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy surgery to note is that, unlike banding, it is not reversible. During surgery, surgeons physically reduce the size of the stomach by removing typically between 70 to 80 percent of it. The remaining stomach mass, located near the major curve of the stomach, is then surgically attached. This reshaped and reduced stomach is a considerably slimmer form. While a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy cannot be reversed, as with any surgery that simply involves removal rather than insertion of objects, there is a significantly reduced risk in adverse effects after surgery.

For surgery with a laparoscope, smaller and fewer incisions are made than in open surgery. A laparoscope is a long thin metal tube with a camera on the end that acts as the surgeon's eye into the parts of the body. The surgeon can then insert small surgical tools to perform the gastrectomy while watching the output from the laparoscope on a television monitor. There are two types of laparoscope used in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a telescopic rod laparoscope, which is connected to a video camera, or the digital laparoscope, which eliminates the need for the rod lens system and is often easier for a surgeon to operate. During surgery, the patient's abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide gas, which offers a safer and more visible working space to manipulate the laparoscope and use the surgical tools. The improvement of the visual field for surgeons due to the introduction of laparoscopic technology means that laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy incurs considerably less of a level of risk than other gastric surgeries. Post-operative pain and complications are reduced, as well.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery Abroad

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has become an increasingly popular medical tourism procedure. Many people are opting to undergo this procedure in countries like Thailand or Spain, where costs are lower while surgical skill is as high as in the home country.