This is a continuation to the main article about bariatric surgery .
Below is a narrated animation of Gastric Sleeve and Gastric Lap Band procedures. Click here to license this video on Alila Medical Media website.
Vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG)
In this procedure a cut is made vertically and the larger part of the stomach (up to 85% of its volume) is removed from the body. The remaining is closed with staples to create a “new stomach” that is now having the shape of a tube (see Fig. 1). The procedure preserves both sphincters at the two ends of the stomach and therefore has minimum effect on the functioning of the digestive process.This reduces the risk of malabsorptive complications commonly associated with intestinal bypass. The procedure is irreversible.
Click here to see an animation of VSG procedure on Alila Medical Media website where the video is also available for licensing.
Fig. 1: Vertical sleeve gastrectomy procedure. Click on image to see a larger version on Alila Medical Media website where the image is also available for licensing.
VSG procedure is gaining more and more popularity thanks to its simplicity and good results on initial weight loss. However, due to the lack of long-term data, it is yet to be endorsed by bariatric surgery societies and is not covered by some insurance companies.
Adjustable gastric band (Lap band)
In this procedure an inflatable silicon band is placed around the top of the stomach to create a small stomach pouch (Fig. 2). During a meal, the pouch is filled up quickly with a small amount of food and releases it slowly into the lower part of the stomach due to the restriction by the band. As the pouch is full, it gives a feeling of satiety (fullness). Slow passage of the food makes the patient feel full for a longer period of time and thus reduces the amount of food intake. The band is connected to a port placed under skin of the abdomen. Through this port, a saline solution (salt water) is injected to adjust the diameter of the band and thus making the passage between the pouch and the lower part of the stomach smaller or larger accordingly to the needs of patient.
Click here to see an animation of gastric band procedure on Alila Medical Media website where the video is also available for licensing.
Fig. 2: Adjustable lap band procedure. Click on image to see a larger version on Alila Medical Media website where the image is also available for licensing.
As the procedure involves no cutting or stapling of the stomach, it is minimal invasive and reversible. The surgery can be performed laparoscopically (as opposed to open surgery) through small incisions with the aid of a camera. Recovery time is significantly shortened compared to gastric bypass procedures. Also, as there is no intestinal bypass, the risks of nutritional deficiencies, dumping syndrome and other complications associated with it are significantly reduced.
In terms of weight loss efficiency, however, patients who undergo gastric lap band surgery typically lose less weight than those who have had gastric bypass procedures.
> See Gastric bypass procedures
