Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is a good option for patients who are extremely overweight or have co-morbidities that rule out other forms of surgery. The majority of the stomach (85 percent) is resected, leaving a long tubular structure, or sleeve, from the esophagus to the small intestine. The procedure permanently reduces the size of the stomach and can be performed laparoscopically.

During surgery, the portion of the stomach that produces Ghrelin, the hunger-stimulating hormone, is removed. The pyloric valve and small intestine are left intact, so dumping syndrome and nutritional deficiencies are avoided. The procedure does not involve an intestinal bypass or the implantation of a medical device, and is safe for patients with very high BMI (40 or more).

The gastric sleeve procedure can be followed up with duodenal switch or gastric bypass for additional weight loss.