University College Hospital
Laparoscopic sleeve
gastrectomy
Centre for Weight Loss, Metabolic and
Endocrine Surgery
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Contents
Page
1 What is a Sleeve Gastrectomy?
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2 How does it work?
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3 How much weight can you expect to lose?
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4 What are the risks of a Sleeve Gastrectomy?
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5 What are the available alternatives?
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6 How should I prepare for the procedure?
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7 Asking for your consent
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8 Pre-Assessment
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9 The day of the operation
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10 What should I expect after the procedure?
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11 Discharge
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12 What to do if you are unwell after surgery
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13 Follow up appointments
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14 Useful Links
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15 Contact details
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16 How to find us
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1. What is a Sleeve Gastrectomy?
A sleeve gastrectomy is a life changing operation. It is used to help
people who are severely obese (BMI 40+ or BMI 35+ with other
health conditions) to lose weight and improve their health. Losing
weight should help to lower the risk of developing medical problems
associated with obesity (e.g. high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis,
breathing problems and asthma).
The sleeve gastrectomy makes your stomach smaller and should
change the amount you can eat at your meals, which will help you to
lose weight. It is not a reversible procedure.
Usually people considering a sleeve gastrectomy will have already
tried many non-surgical options available to help them to lose weight.
New Stomach
(the sleeve)
Portion of
stomach
which is
removed
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2. How does it work?
The surgery is usually done laparoscopically, commonly known as
keyhole surgery. This means that you will be up and about soon after
surgery and should make a speedy recovery. Although you will have
some pain after surgery this is usually easily controlled by taking pain
killers regularly.
The operation involves removing approximately 75 per cent of your
stomach, leaving behind a narrow tube (sleeve) which becomes your
new stomach. After the surgery food will follow the normal route into
the smaller stomach and then on into the small intestine.
The operation also alters some of the hormone signals from the
stomach and intestine to parts of the brain that control body weight.
Following this operation, many patients report that they feel less like
eating and feel fuller sooner and for longer after a meal.
As the size of your stomach has been reduced, the size of your
meals will need to be reduced to be appropriate for your new small
stomach. Your reduced portion size combined with low fat, low sugar
choices will help you to lose weight.
A sleeve gastrectomy is permanent and is not a reversible procedure.
You may need to take vitamin supplements after the operation; we
will tell you if you need to take any supplements.
3. How much weight can you expect to lose?
You can expect to lose between 50 and 70 per cent of your excess
weight in the first 12 to 18 months following surgery:
A man who weighs 146 kg (22 stone 13lbs) and is 1.85 m (6’ 1’’) tall
has a BMI of 42 kg / m2
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The upper limit of the ideal BMI (25 kg / m2) would give him a weight
of 85.6 kg (13 stone 6lbs)
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70 per cent excess weight loss = 42.3 kg. Total body weight = 103.7
kg (16 stone 4lbs) (BMI 30 kg / m2)
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A 50 per cent excess weight loss = 30.2 kg, with a weight of 115.8
kg (18 stone 3lbs) (BMI 34 kg / m2)
The amount of weight you are able to lose and keep off after surgery
will depend also on the lifestyle changes that you make, such as
increasing the amount of exercise you take and eating a healthy diet.
It is important to remember that the operation will not stop from you
from craving certain foods or eating what you fancy.
4. What are the risks of a Sleeve Gastrectomy?
As with all major surgery, sleeve gastrectomy has some risks. These
risks vary according to your age and any other illnesses you may
have.
The risk of death at the time of surgery or within the first 30 days after
surgery is estimated to occur in less than nought point five per cent
(or 1 in every 200 patients) having this operation.
Other complications, listed below, happen in seven per cent to ten
per cent of patients (or seven to ten of every 100 patients).
Your surgeon will tell you your individual risk based on your current
state of health.
Complications that can occur soon after surgery:
• Wound infection: This can be treated with a course of antibiotics.
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Bleeding: You will be monitored carefully for signs of bleeding; a
few patients will need a blood transfusion. Usually this will not be a
problem but in the worst case scenario the surgeon will take you
back to theatre and stop the bleeding (may involve an ‘open’
operation where the stomach has to be opened up with an incision).
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Blood clots in the legs or the lungs: To prevent blood clots from
forming you will be given special stockings to wear and an injection
to thin your blood. During and immediately after your operation you
will also wear special boots; these will squeeze your leg muscles
when you are in bed to prevent clots from forming. You should be
able to get out of bed and walk around almost straight away. The
nurses on the ward will encourage you to do this as it is an
important way to prevent blood clots from forming. You will need to
wear the stockings for six weeks after the operation. Smoking
significantly increases the risk of clotting. If you are a smoker, you
must stop smoking before surgery. Your GP will be able to help you
with this.
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Leaks from staple lines: This postoperative problem is rare but
serious and may require emergency surgery. A leak can be caused
by a staple falling out, allowing the contents of the stomach to leak
out. If this happens, your hospital stay might be longer. Sometimes
this will heal without any further surgery. In the worst case scenario
your surgeon may decide to take you back to theatre to fix the
problem and stop the leaking.
Longer term complications after Sleeve Gastrectomy
Long term problems are uncommon but can include:
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Hernias of the abdominal wall.
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Narrowing of the new stomach which can cause problems with
eating and drinking. This will usually settle on its own although
sometimes it will need to be stretched under a local anaesthetic.
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Hair loss or thinning in the first six months; this will re-grow.
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5. What are the available alternatives?
It is important for you to know that the procedure recommended is
based on your specific medical history and dietary history.
Other options we offer include:
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Gastric Band.
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Gastric Bypass.
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Intensive Weight Control Programme (non-surgical pathway).
Please feel free to discuss your options with your surgeon
6. How should I prepare for the procedure?
Read information on websites such as BOSPA and Weight Loss info.
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Discuss the operation with your close friends and family.
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Attend a support group at UCLH: ask the Clinical Nurse Specialist
for more information.
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We would like you to be as fit as you can prior to surgery; try to go
for a walk every day and to keep up with your usual exercise
routine.
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Two weeks before the operation you will be required to follow a low
calorie liquid diet. This will help shrink the liver and make the
operation easier for the surgeon and safer for you.
7. Asking for your consent
By law we must ask for your consent and will ask you to sign a
consent form. This confirms that you agree to have the operation and
understand what it involves. Staff will explain all the risks, benefits
and alternatives before they ask you to sign a consent form. If you
are unsure about any aspect of the treatment proposed, please do
not hesitate to speak with a senior member of staff again.
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8. Pre-Assessment
A few weeks before your operation you will attend a pre-assessment
appointment. This appointment is to check everything is in place for
your admission. You will be given more information at this
appointment about the admission process. You may also be seen by
our Consultant Anaesthetist.
9. The day of the operation
You will usually be admitted to the hospital on the day of your
operation. You must not have anything to eat or drink (this includes
chewing gum and calorie free mints) from midnight the night before
your surgery, although you may drink plain water up until two hours
before.
Please check with the nurse at your pre-assessment appointment
which of your usual medication you should take on the day of your
operation.
Once your admission is complete you will walk to the operating
theatre if you are able. You will be put to sleep by the anaesthetist
and you may have a urinary catheter put into the bladder, usually
whilst you are asleep. You will also be given an intravenous drip so
you can have fluids during the operation.
10. What should I expect after the procedure?
The first few hours after the operation
You will wake up in a recovery room where nursing staff will monitor
you for any complications.
You will have a drip and may have a urinary catheter and a drain into
the wound. You will also be wearing stockings and have a pumping
device on your legs to prevent blood clots. As soon as you are fully
awake, you will be transferred to either the surgical ward or the
intensive care unit (ITU) where your relatives can visit you.
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You won’t be able to eat or drink to allow your stomach to recover
from the operation. To prevent you from becoming dehydrated you
will continue to be given fluids through the drip. You will receive
painkillers to control any pain. Your surgeon will instruct you when
you may start to drink water, it is important you do not have anything
to drink until your surgeon feels it is safe for you to do so.
You will be encouraged to get out of bed as soon as possible after
surgery. This helps to reduce the chance of post operative
complications such as blood clots in the legs or chest infections.
The day after the operation
If you have been looked after in ITU you will be transferred to the
ward.
The amount you may drink will be increased every couple of hours
until you are able to take 125ml (one glass) of water every hour.
Your drip will be removed when you are drinking enough to keep you
hydrated.
If you have a catheter it will be taken out by the nurses and you will
be able to get out of bed to go to the toilet.
The following two days after the operation
You should start to feel better very quickly after the operation and will
be able to move around on your own.
You need to drink one 125ml glass of smooth fluid every hour when
you are awake. For example you may have tea and coffee, milky
drinks and soup with no lumps.
If you have a drain it will be taken out one - two days after your
operation. Two to three days after surgery you will be able to go
home.
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11. Discharge
Pain and medication
You will be given a supply of soluble painkillers to take home with
you; these should be taken regularly for the first few days. If you have
no pain, gradually reduce the number of tablets you are taking.
Allow soluble tablets to stop fizzing before you drink them.
Do not take any large tablets whole (in non-soluble form) for six
weeks.
Take the soluble lansoprazole tablets for three months.
If you have been taking medication to control your blood pressure or
diabetes, these will be reviewed before your discharge. In most
cases these can be reduced or sometimes stopped all together.
Please make sure you are clear about this before you leave the
hospital.
Nutritional supplements
If you have been advised to take nutritional supplements please
ensure you take the calcium and iron medication two hours apart. If
taken together the body is not able to absorb the iron.
Wounds
The small incisions made for your surgery will be more or less healed
by the time you leave the hospital. The steri-strips (paper stitches)
should be left to come off by themselves. Any stitches will be soluble.
You will only need to go home with dressings if one of the wounds is
oozing. If this is the case the ward nurse will ask you to visit the nurse
at your GP surgery.
Anti-emboli stockings
You should take these home with you and continue to wear them until
you are walking about on a regular basis. We usually recommend
wearing them for six weeks after your operation.
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Eating and Drinking
You will have been given a diet information sheet at your preassessment visit. You should have this with you at all times so you
know what to drink and are familiar with the stages of food
introduction in the next few weeks.
Washing
You can have a shower but do not soak in the bath for at least a week
after surgery.
Driving
You may drive as soon as you can comfortably wear a seat belt and
are able to perform an emergency stop. You should check with your
insurance company for their specific advice about driving after
keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery.
Other Activities
You will be able to walk straight after surgery. Try to go for a walk
every day, gradually increasing the distance as you feel able. You will
probably need at least two weeks off work but please check with your
doctor. It is advisable to avoid heavy lifting for at least two months
after abdominal surgery; if you are unsure discuss with your surgeon.
You may resume sexual activity as soon as you feel comfortable.
Note: Women of childbearing age must not become pregnant for
at least one year following a sleeve gastrectomy.
If you do not already have regular contraception it may be worth
visiting your local family planning centre for advice. After one year: if
you are planning a pregnancy please contact our dieticians for
nutritional advice.
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12. What to do if you are unwell after surgery
Monday to Friday 09:00 till 17:00
Contact the Bariatric Nurse Specialists 07943 826 528/07852 221 166
Evenings / weekends:
Contact your GP
If this does not work or you are very unwell please attend A and E
at UCLH or your local A and E who will contact the team here.
For conditions unrelated to your bariatric surgery please visit your GP
or call NHS direct.
13. Follow up appointments
You should receive an appointment to see the clinical nurse
specialist five to six weeks after surgery.
14. Useful Links
British Obesity Surgery Patient Association
Website:
www.bospa.org
Weight Loss Surgery Info
Website:
www.wlsinfo.org.uk
15. Contact details
Please, do not hesitate to ask a member of the Bariatric Team with
any further questions you may have. All of us are happy to help you.
Switchboard:
Secretary Direct Line:
Nurse:
Dietician:
Ward:
Fax:
Email:
Website:
0845 155 5000
020 3447 9460
07943 826 528
07904 912 441
020 3447 0600
020 3447 9217
[email protected]
www.uclh.nhs.uk
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16. How to find us
We are based at University College Hospital
No car parking is available at the hospital. Street parking is very
limited and restricted to a maximum of two hours.
Please note the University College Hospital lies outside but very
close to the Central London Congestion Charging Zone.
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First published:
October 2010
Last review date:
July 2013
Next review date:
July 2015
Leaflet code:
UCLH/S&C/GI/BAR/LAPGB/1
© University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Created by Medical Illustration RNTNEH 020 3456 5103 Unique Code: 28545