About VSG

Have you already read the page titled "IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ"?

If not, CLICK HERE to do so before proceeding.  It contains important information.

 ________________________________________________

Also known as VSG, Sleeve Gastrectomy, Vertical Gastrectomy

The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure (also commonly called Sleeve Gastrectomy, Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy and VSG is a solely restrictive procedure and is not reversible.  It generates weight loss solely through gastric restriction (reduced stomach volume) thus restricting the amount of food (and therefore calories) that can be eaten.

Things to Expect With this Surgery:
Prior to surgery, you will have an IV line inserted and you will most likely be fitted with compression stockings and given a blood thinner injection in your abdomen.  You will be put under general anesthesia.  Your surgeon will make 2 to 5 small cuts in your abdomen.  He/She will pass the laparoscope and the instruments needed to perform the surgery through these openings.  The camera is connected to a video monitor in the operating room so your surgeon can look at the monitor to see inside your belly.  Your surgeon will insert thin surgical instruments through the other openings.  He/She will then remove most of your stomach.  The remaining portions of your stomach are joined together using staples. This creates a long vertical tube or banana-shaped stomach.  The surgery does not involve cutting or changing the sphincter muscles that allow food to enter or leave the stomach.  The surgery will take approximately 60 minutes and you will be in the recovery room another hour or so.  Shortly after getting to your room and the whole time you are confined, you will need to walk, walk, walk every 1 to 2 hours.  Also, every 1 to 2 hours you will need to use your incentive spirometry (deep breating) device.  You will also need to keep your compression stockings on and plugged in as long as you are in bed.  These 3 things will reduce your risk of developing a blood clot.  The day of surgery you may also have to do a leak test where you drink a liquid, then have a scan of your new tummy.  After you are cleared of any leaks or on day 2, you usually will be allowed to ingest clear fluids.  The goal is to drink at least 1 oz. of liquid every 15 minutes while you are in the hospital.  When you eat or ingest liquids after having surgery, the small remaining pouch (sleeve) will fill up quickly. You will feel full after eating or drinking just a very small amount of food or liquid.  Also, rapid weight loss increases your risk for gallstones.  As part of your care, your surgeon may recommend having your gall bladder removed prior to or at the time of your VSG surgery. 

Why is the Procedure Performed? 

Weight-loss surgery may be an option if you are very obese and have not been able to lose weight through diet and exercise.  Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is not a "quick fix" for obesity. It will greatly change your lifestyle. You must diet and exercise after this surgery. You may have complications from the surgery and poor weight loss if you don’t diet and exercise.  This procedure may be recommended for you if you have:

A body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more. Someone with a BMI of 40 or more is at least 100 pounds over their recommended weight, A BMI of 35 or more and a serious medical condition that might improve with weight loss. Some of these conditions are sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.  Risks

Risks for any anesthesia are:
Allergic reactions to medicines

     Breathing problems

Risks for any surgery are:
Blood Clots in the legs that may travel to your lungs
Blood Loss
Heart attack or stroke during surgery
Infection, including in the surgical cuts, lungs, bladder or kidney

Risks for Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy are:
Gastritis (inflamed stomach lining), heartburn, or stomach ulcers
Injury to your stomach, intestines, or other organs during surgery
Leaking from the line where parts of the stomach have been stapled together
Poor nutrition, although much less than with gastric bypass surgery
Scarring inside your belly that could lead to a blockage in your bowel in the future
Vomiting Vomiting from eating more than your stomach pouch can hold

Stomach Capacity Before Surgery		Stomach Capacity After Surgery
1 ½ Liters or 50 Ounces		60 – 90 ml./cc. pouch or 2 – 3 ounces
About ¾ of a pitcher		About the size of a deck of cards