When Choosing a surgery there are many factors that we as surgeons, take into account to make a suggestion; those factors are:  Age, gender, BMI, presence or absence of obesity related diseases, surgical risk, acid reflux disease, just to name a few. Here are some facts about gastric sleeve surgery that may interest to the vast majority of patient seeking a weight loss surgery:

Gastric Sleeve (GS).

–   Is a Restrictive procedure that consists in removing 80% of the stomach volume.

  • Most performed bariatric surgery worldwide.
  • It does not alter the digestive anatomy significantly.
  •  Long term similar results to Gastric Bypass in % Excess Weight Loss and resolution of obesity related diseases (Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, etc). [1,2].
  • Technically less challenging than gastric bypass and mini gastric bypass, thus, less operative time = fewer complications [3,4], (ideal for very high risk patients).
  • Works better in patients with a BMI under 50.
  • Less costs than RYGB and Mini Gastric Bypass.
  • Morbimortality (complication rate)  0 – 1.2% [5]
  1. Leyba JL, Llopis SN,Laparoscopic Roux en Y gastric bypass versus laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for the treatment  of morbid obesity. A prospective study with 5 year followup of 117 patients Obes Surg 2011:21;212-16.

2.  Jackson TD, Huttler MM. Morbidity and effectiveness of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, adjustable gastric        banding  and gastric bypass for morbid obesity. Adv Sure: 2012;46:255-68

3.  Osland F, munis RM, Kahn S et al Postoperative early mayor and minor complications in laparoscopic sleeve  gastrectomy (LSG) versus laparoscopic roux en y gastric bypass (LRYGB) procedures; meta-analisys and systematic review. Obes Surg 2016;26;2273-84

4. ASMBS Clinical issues committee, ASMBS online statements guidelines.Updated position statement on sleeve gastrectomy as a bariatric procedure Surg Obes Relat Dis.2012;8e 21-6.

5. FisherL, Weckerle AL, Bruckner T, et al, BariSurg trial, sleeve gastrectomy versus roux en y gastric bypass in obese patients with vmi 35 – 60 kg/M2 a multi centre randomized patient and observer blind non inferiority trial.BMC Surg 2015;15:1-8.