4 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 8
Sleeve gastrectomy has a cou-
ple big advantages over other
bariatric procedures. First,
there is no foreign body
implanted, as with the
adjustable gastric band.
Second, there is no complex
intestinal rearrangement, as
with the gastric bypass. But
unlike the adjustable gastric
band and the gastric bypass, the
sleeve gastrectomy cannot be
reversed.
Advantages
• Restricts the amount of food
the stomach can hold.
• Induces rapid and significant
weight loss that comparative
studies find similar to that of
the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
Weight loss of >50% for 3-5+
year data, and weight loss com-
parable to that of the bypass
with maintenance of >50%.
• Requires no foreign objects
(as adjustable gastric band
does), and no bypass or re-rout-
ing of the food stream (as RYGB
does).
• Involves a relatively short hos-
pital stay of about 2 days.
• Causes favorable changes in
gut hormones that suppress
hunger, reduce appetite and
improve satiety.
Disadvantages
• Is an irreversible procedure.
• Has the potential for long-
term vitamin deficiencies.
• Has a higher early complica-
tion rate than the adjustable
gastric band.
SOURCE: The American Society
for Metabolic and Bariatric
Surgery
Long and Short of Sleeve Gastrectomy
• SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY Removing a portion of the stom-
ach reduces the body's level of a hormone called ghrelin,
which is commonly referred to as the "hunger hormone."
HUNGER GAMES
