Being overweight can affect your mental and physical health. The advancements in the medical industry have paved new ways in curing obesity. If you have tried losing weight and have failed repeatedly, you might want to try a sleeve gastrectomy. 

Being overweight can cause many problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, stroke, cancer, and fertility. 

The operation is performed laparoscopically that involves making small insertions in the abdominal wall. Then, through additional cuts, the surgeon inserts medical instruments to remove 3/4 of your stomach. The rest of the stomach is reattached and is then shaped like a banana. 

Reasons for performing Sleeve Gastrectomy:

Sleeve Gastrectomy is performed to eliminate excess weight in a person. It is a common bariatric procedure that brings about many profound changes in a person’s life. They are:

• Overall improved quality of life
• 60-70% excess weight loss within a year
• Remission or improvement obesity-related health problems such as diabetes, fatty liver disease, joint pain, hypertension, and more.
• Decreased hunger

Surgical Instruments used in the Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedure:

Below is a list of surgical instruments used for the procedure of Sleeve Gastrectomy:

Dissecting Forceps:

Dissecting forceps are used in many ways when it comes to surgical procedures. The forceps allow for secure stomach dissection with minimal tissue damage. They also hold the needles while operating.

Suction irrigator:

This device provides flow rates during laparoscopic procedures. It eliminates excessive bleeding from the operating site. Also, the irrigator is used as a blunt dissector in sleeve gastrectomy surgery.

Graspers:

The graspers hold delicate stomach tissues during surgery. Since the instrument is minimally invasive,  the patient receives minor trauma from the surgery. Graspers also increase the recovery speed in patients. 

Curved surgical scissors:

Curved scissors move right through the trocar and make cuts in the stomach lining. The doctors choose the size of the curved scissor depending on the surgery.

Needle Holder:

A needle holder is used to ligate wounds together with the help of a dissolvable suture. The fine tip of the surgical instrument allows smooth handling and easy manipulation during sleeve gastrectomy surgery.

Trocar:

Trocars are frequently used during laparoscopic surgery and come in different shapes and sizes. They create a small passageway through the abdominal wall. Trocars come in different shapes and sizes, and surgeons use them according to the surgery requirement. 

What to expect during the procedure?

The procedure depends on the person and the doctor’s practices. Most sleeve gastrectomy procedures are done through an incision performed on the abdomen. However, doctors are also performing surgery laparoscopically. The patient is given anaesthesia. Then, the surgeon staples the stomach vertically while removing the more significant curved part of the stomach. The surgery takes about one to two hours. 

Possible Complications:

The stomach takes about six months to heal completely. However, the patient might experience the following issues:

• Body pain that does not go away quickly
• Experience flu-like symptoms (increased fatigue)
• The patient feels cold at times.
• Dry patches on the skin
• Hair thinning and hair loss
• Mood swings

Conclusion:

As mentioned earlier, obesity can cause a plethora of illnesses, but if the patient cannot shed weight for various reasons, doctors recommend a sleeve gastrectomy. The surgery has a high success rate, and patients barely experience health consequences.