Anyone heard of the gastric sleeve - ThinnerTimes

mindycure · 05-25-2006, 05:43 AM

On my morning news they said "there is a new option for over weight people that is less invasive than gastric bypass" then had this article about it:

Gastric Sleeve: New Weight Loss Surgery
http://www.nbc6.net/health/9215916/detail.html
POSTED: 9:23 am EDT May 15, 2006
UPDATED: 3:26 pm EDT May 17, 2006

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Dr. Antonio Muina used to tip the scales at 315 pounds.

"I was extremely overweight. I had tried to lose weight for many, many years," Muina said.

Muina has lost 100 pounds since September and he didn't have gastric bypass surgery.

"I was pretty familiar with the gastric bypass because I see a lot of patients that have had bypasses and I see them with the complications and I just wasn't thrilled about having that procedure," Muina said.

Instead, Muina opted for a new type of weight loss surgery that has been gaining momentum in the last year. It's called the gastric sleeve.

Dr. Moises Jacobs at Mercy Hospital is among the first in South Florida to offer this procedure, which is less drastic and still gets dramatic results.

"I ate too much because I was hungry and this procedure to me, I looked at it as forced portion control," Muina said.

That's accomplished by removing a large portion of the stomach.

"With the sleeve you're actually taking out 2/3 to 3/4 of the stomach," Jacobs said. "With the bypass you're leaving it in place. Basically we're creating a tube out of the stomach by using staples. The portion of the stomach that's stapled out, we remove."

With a smaller stomach, patients eat less. And there's another benefit.

"The hormones that control the appetite are created in this portion of the stomach and by taking out that portion of the stomach you reduce the patient's appetite," Jacobs said.

With gastric bypass, a lot of the digestive plumbing is rerouted and that results in a higher rate of serious complications, including gastrointestinal leaking, bowel obstruction and death.

That's why Mary Camejo chose the gastric sleeve.

"I don't think I was at that stage where I wanted something so invasive," Camejo said. "This option for gastric sleeve, it opened up a whole new avenue for me."

Camejo's surgery was completed in about an hour. In five weeks, she lost 20 pounds.

Right now, the gastric sleeve procedure is only being performed at a few centers across the country.

"It's becoming very popular amongst the surgeons in these specialized centers because of the low risks and the great results that we're getting," Jacobs said. "This is just beginning to take off."

Doctors point out that no obesity surgery is a cure-all. It's simply a tool to help patients cut portions and calories. The smaller stomach can enlarge again and weight loss can be regained.
Copyright 2006 by NBC6.net. All rights reserved.
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I WAS just curious if anyone knew anything else about it or if anyone has had it. I am guessing since it is new that the insurance companies probably won't be covering it yet, just like they don't cover the mini gastric bypass http://clos.net/ or the Lap Band. So I will probably have to stick with getting the normal gastric bypass, but I did want any insight to this if anyone had any. Thanks! Mindy

VanessaSFL · 05-25-2006, 05:47 AM

I have heard of it and a few in my support group had it done.I hear it's the "BIG" thing now.

V

mindycure · 05-25-2006, 05:49 AM

i have been searching on the internet this morning for more info on it, and it is only being done in a few places so far, the closest I guess would be in Florida. But it never really gave any info on how to find out if insurance covers it or any other basic info..
Also has anyone researched the Mini Gastric Bypass? I tried to get that first before I started doing the normal gastric bypass but found out that my insurance wouldn't cover it since it is still fairly new.

lvierheilig · 05-25-2006, 06:23 AM

I know my doctor told us about the sleeve, but he said many do not perform the surgery because its not always effective. He also said that they are looking at using it for those who have less than 100 lbs to lose but still have co-morbidities.

VanessaSFL · 05-25-2006, 06:51 AM

They do it in Miami.My Dr.does not do it.

V

lealphachienne · 05-25-2006, 08:49 AM

I worry about doc is FL...many are crooks and are doing procedures that aren't approved yet.

It appears as a spin off of the mini-bypass. I would hesitate about any procedure that removes a healthy stomach. With RNY bypass, nothing is removed, just rearranged so all parts still function to a certain degree. If the worse case scenario, the RNY can be reversed.

Basically the gastric sleeve is just creating a very long, narrow esophagus that is unobstructed. I assume they leave the duodeum intact, so you won't have any problems with dumping. I can see how you can easily regain all the weight if you only eat soft foods and drinks lots of shakes and eat ice cream all day. That's also why the Lap-Band isn't as effective.

mindycure · 05-25-2006, 09:44 AM

interesting. thanks for the info.. i just thought it was kinda cool since they said you wouldn't have any of the normal problems like leakage or bowel obstruction, but with everything comes new problems..

flutterbies · 05-25-2006, 10:03 AM

I guess once they do the sleeve, the patients supposed to be able to loose alot of weight and then they do a second surgery (RNY) once the weight loss has slowed down, but I've heard many insurances won't cover it because it involves two surgeries, they'll pay for the first one but not the second, but if it sounds like something you're interested in and your insurance will pay for both surgeries more power to ya and good luck!

lealphachienne · 05-25-2006, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flutterbies

I guess once they do the sleeve, the patients supposed to be able to loose alot of weight and then they do a second surgery (RNY) once the weight loss has slowed down, but I've heard many insurances won't cover it because it involves two surgeries, they'll pay for the first one but not the second, but if it sounds like something you're interested in and your insurance will pay for both surgeries more power to ya and good luck!

Now why in the world would anyone want to go through 2 surgeries to get the same results? You can't convert into a RNY because the remaining stomach was removed. Makes no sense to me.

lealphachienne · 05-25-2006, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mindycure

interesting. thanks for the info.. i just thought it was kinda cool since they said you wouldn't have any of the normal problems like leakage or bowel obstruction, but with everything comes new problems..

Leakage and bowel obstruction can still happen regardless of which surgery you have....all abdominal surgies have that risk.