Sleeve Gastrectomy 101

Course overview

Sleeve gastrectomy is not a new procedure. Resections of the stomach for weight loss were done in the past but because of leaks, the procedures were not continued. Now with the availability of automatic stapling devices, the procedure can be done safely with a much lower rate of leaks. The basic aim of sleeve gastrectomy is to reduce the size and volume of the stomach, which in turn changes neural and hormonal regulatory mechanisms and leads to weight loss. The reduction in stomach capacity restricts food intake, increases early satiety and enables weight loss while at the same time preserving stomach function. Sleeve gastrectomy removes a significant part of the stomach, which contains glands that produce the appetite-stimulating peptide ghrelin. Sleeve gastrectomy results in a curved slender tube with a volume capacity that ranges from 60 mL to 200 mL.