Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

The laparoscopic vertical “sleeve” gastrectomy involves removing about 85% of the stomach. We use a special guide to help us remove part of the stomach. The stomach normally holds up to 2 liters, but after surgery it will hold about one cup. Food empties normally and there is no malabsorption of food in the small intestine because there is no re-routing of the food.

The sleeve gastrectomy is less difficult to preform, and less risk than the gastric bypass. We do not re-arrange the intestines, there is no malabsorption in the small bowel. Dr. Simpson is the first in Arizona to have offered the sleeve as a stand-alone procedure in 2001, and than began to offer them laparoscopically in 2002.

In comparison to other operations:
(1) Simple operation with a low mortality risk
(2) Technically easy with low risks post op
(3) The short-term risk include staple line bleeding or leak which may require other operations
(4) Weight loss comparable to the gastric bypass (RNY) but without malabsorption
(5) Long-term risks are still being evaluated.