Gastric Sleeve Surgery: What You Need to Know
Gastric sleeve surgery is an irreversible and fairly intense surgical procedure, and there are many details you should know about if you are planning to have the procedure performed.
Prospective patients in Melbourne, FL who are interested in bariatric surgery procedures, particularly gastric sleeve surgery, need to read this article.
Like other bariatric surgical procedures, Melbourne Fl gastric sleeve surgery is performed in the hospital, and you will be under general anesthesia for the duration of the procedure. The typical gastric sleeve procedure lasts for approximately an hour, although the specific details will be dependent on the specific circumstances and variables of your operation.
This operation is usually performed laparoscopically, and the surgeon will make several small abdominal incisions in order to provide an entryway for the laparoscopic equipment. After the procedure, you will typically have to remain in the hospital for 48 to 72 hours. Recovery times for gastric sleeve surgery can last anywhere from two to four weeks, depending on the patient.
During the gastric sleeve procedure, a large section of your stomach will be removed, typically around three quarters along the outside curvatures. A new, artificial stomach will be implanted – this replacement stomach is a thin tube known as a sleeve. This sleeve connects the end point of the esophagus to the original junction of the stomach and the small intestine; thus, the gastric bypass is complete.
The pyloric valve, also known as the pyloric sphincter, which controls the flow rate of material through the stomach into the small intestine, will continue to function normally and without change after the procedure.
After the completion of the gastric sleeve surgery, you will be taken to a recovery room while you awaken from general anesthesia. This stage will mark the beginning of your two to three day hospital stay. During this time, you will not be allowed to consume any food, as your stomach and body need time to heal and recover from the procedure.
After the first or second day, you will begin a diet which is specifically configured for your recovery from the surgery. Over a few months, you will gradually move from liquid to semi solid to solid food. There may also be additional restrictions on how much food or liquid you may consume on a daily basis.
As with all surgical procedures, there are risks and possible complications associated with the gastric sleeve procedure. Like every surgical procedure, infection is a possibility. However, laparoscopic procedures have been found in some medical science studies to reduce the risk of infection, most likely because it involves much smaller incisions and presents far fewer infection vectors.
Leakage of the sleeve and blood clots are other possible complications of this procedure. Prior to surgery, you can limit the possibility of complications by decreasing your body mass index (also known as your BMI), living a healthy life style, ensuring you incorporate an adequate amount of exercise into your daily routine, refraining from smoking or quitting smoking if you do smoke, and avoiding caffeinated beverages one month prior to surgery.