Sleeve Gastrectomy Complications

Potentially Serious Complications:

Perforation of the stomach and/or the intestine
Leakage of the stomach, causing peritonitis (inflammation of the stomach lining)
Internal bleeding
Gastric outlet, or bowel obstructions
Pneumonia (fluid in the lungs)
Respiratory insufficiency, or pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
Blood clots in the legs, or embolism (blood clots in the lungs)
Myocardial infarction (a heart attack), or congestive heart failure
Irregular heartbeats
Stroke
Acute kidney failure
Liver failure
Anorexia or bulimia
Postoperative depression
Psychosis (abnormal mental condition, causing loss of reality)

Minor Complications Which Could Become Serious:

Minor wound, skin infection or scarring
Vomiting, nausea, or the inability to eat certain foods
Inflammation of the esophagus, or acid reflux
Low sodium, potassium, or blood sugar levels
Low blood pressure
Narrowing or stretching of the stomach outlet
Anemia, or metabolic deficiency (loss of iron, minerals, and vitamins in the system)
Constipation, diarrhea, bloating or cramping
Development of gallstones, or gallbladder disease
Peptic ulcers (stomach or stomach outlet ulcers)
Staple line disruption (irritation, or infection may cause leakage)
Intolerance to refined sugars, causing nausea, weakness, and sweating
Dehydration

The important thing to realize is that you will probably not experience these complications, even though you clearly need to be aware of what might happen, before you make your decision to have surgery. As a general rule, if the expected outcome of the surgery outweighs the risks, then you will feel more comfortable about the procedure. It is also important to research all of the options open to you before deciding upon the sleeve gastrectomy and it is important to discuss this with your family, as this will require a major change of lifestyle for you after surgery. You family also needs to be aware of the complications which can arise when having a sleeve gastrectomy.

It it important to gather together your own medical history and to present this to your surgeon. Many of the surgical complications can be prevented if your medical background is clear and up to date. It is also necessary to do research on your surgeon and to not be afraid to ask questions to determine how many operations he has performed and what success rate he has achieved. It is also important to discover what sort of complications his patients have encountered. This is your body and he should be expecting such questions if he is a true professional. Don't forget either that this surgery is irreversible and is a life-changing event for you and your loved ones.

After researching various options, collecting a good health background on yourself, interviewing and discussing the surgery with your chosen surgeon, and researching what complications are possible when having a sleeve gastrectomy, you need to be able to make a commitment to a new lifestyle and diet. This surgery also has the potential for poor weight loss without your co-operation and you will need to work on your diet for it to succeed.

Finally, remember that in the hours and days after sleeve gastrectomy surgery you will need to report any fever, worsening pain, redness or swelling around the incision, or drainage from the incision to your surgeon. These are signs of infection, and need to be attended to immediately. You will need to keep all follow-up appointments to insure complete and correct healing. If you enter into the decision knowing what complications are possible when having a sleeve gastrectomy, you will enter with a more informed, and more positive attitude for complete success.