Basics Relating To Gastric Banding And Sleeve Gastrectomy

By Martha Foster


Lifestyle changes are highly recommend as ways of losing weight and remaining healthy. Unfortunately, these two are not effective in everyone and there is often a need for other options. Surgical weight loss procedures such as gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy have increased in popularity in New York in recent years due to their effectiveness and safety profile. The two are types of bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgeries are also known as restrictive surgeries. This is because they are designed to reduce the capacity of the stomach which effectively reduces the amount of food that is held at any given point in time. Since, the stomach fills a lot faster than before, there is early satiety and by extension, reduced food intake. The weight loss that is seen in subsequent weeks and months is mainly due to reduced food intake.

Gastric banding involves the placement of a silicon band on the fundus (upper part) of the stomach. The band exerts a squeeze in this region effectively converting the organ into a small pouch with an outlet capable of holding just an ounce of food. This procedure is done using laparoscopy which has a number of advantages over conventional (open) surgical operations. They include, smaller incisions, less bleeding and less prominent scars.

To retain control on the band, the surgeon connects it to an area just below the skin using a plastic tube. Sterile water or saline can be injected into this tube or drawn from it to increase or reduce the squeeze. The final effect is increased or reduced capacity. Increasing the capacity may be necessary if there are unwanted side effects. Reducing it, on the other hand, is necessary if the benefits are not being realized.

The results of gastric banding greatly vary from one person to another. Studies show that most people achieve weight loss of between 40 and 50% in a few months. While it is a generally safe procedure, there are a number of side effects that one should anticipate. Those that are most commonly encountered include vomiting, nausea, minor bleeding and infections. Adjusting the squeeze helps reduce the nausea and vomiting.

Sleeve gastrectomy (or gastric sleeve) refers to the surgical removal of a part of the stomach. This may be as much as 80%. The remaining stomach is a tubular pouch which closely resembles a banana. This method helps reduce weight in two ways: reduced capacity of the stomach and faster movement of food (hence less absorption). The shape is also believed to influence gastric hormone production such that one feels less hungry.

Sleeve gastrectomy has been approved for use in children and adolescents. Studies show that it has no negative effects on the growth of children. Possible complications of this procedure include leakage of food, nausea, aversion to food, infections and esophageal spasms. Over time, the stomach may dilate but not significantly. It is important to remember that unlike the banding procedure, the sleeve procedure is irreversible.

These two surgeries are performed as day cases. One can, therefore, be released to go home on the same day. Resumption of the normal daily routine can occur within a day or two. As for the diet, one needs to be on liquid diet and mashed foods for at least two weeks. The food to be eaten for the first two weeks should be either liquid diet or mashed foods.




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