Question:
What is a Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

A friend of mine went in for Laparoscopic Gastric Banding this week. Unfortunatly, the doctor "made a mistake" (his words), and punctured her stomach when inserting the scope. He elected to do a Gastric Sleeve operation instead. I cannot find information on this type of surgery, anybody have this done? ~Beverly    — Beverly A. (posted on November 12, 2004)

November 12, 2004
DEAR BEVERLY, I FOUND THIS LINK, http://www.surgery.uiowa.edu/ibsr/wwinter03.htm, ABOUT THE GASTIR SLEEVE. I HOPE THAT IT IS INFORMATIVE. HAVE A BLESSED DAY, LORIANN http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristianWLSJourney
   — Loriann J.

November 12, 2004
Beverly, I wonder if it's a sleeve gastrectomy?.... My surgeon does this type of surgery on some patients who would have counterindications for a full BPD/DS> Some doctors feel that the risks to the patient are lower with the sleeve gastrectomy (which is a cut along the greater curvature of the stomach, retaining the pylorus and pyloric function) as opposed to the use of a foreign body (i.e., a lap band or any other type of band). I know that there are several surgeons on the East Coast who are doing the sleeve gastrectomy surgery pretty frequently. Do you know the name of your friend's surgeon? Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

November 12, 2004
The sleeve gastrectomy is part of the BPD/DS, or simply called the duodenal switch procedure. Due to a higher rate of complications inherent with this procedure some surgeons perform it as a staged procedure. Doing the sleeve gastrectomy first and then going back to perform the duodenal switch (malabsorptive) part later. It is not routine practice but it doesn't sound like your surgeon was in a routine situation. Sincerely, Calvin Selwyn, M.D. Univ of Cincinnati
   — selwynca