What is Leakage After Sleeve Gastrectomy ?

Sleeve Gastrectomy has been done since the 90’s. But it took its final form in the early 2000s. Sleeve Gastrectomy keeps its place in medicine as an operation that can be a solution to obesity alone. Many surgeries have risks that can occur during or after surgery. Some complications are likely to occur. There are such risks in Sleeve Gastrectomy. And, the most common problem in these surgeries is the possibility of “leakage”.

Although sleeve gastrectomy is a surgery with a risk of leakage, the most common complication is leakage, which occurs in only one of fifty patients. Although this risk cannot be changed, despite the emerging surgical methods, it is useful to get information about the frequency of cases from an institution that you believe is answering with honesty in order to be careful. You should especially learn about your surgeon’s laparoscopic surgery experience. The fact that your surgeon has not seen any gastric leakage cases does not prove that he is experienced in this field, do not forget to question the reference samples.

How to Test Leakage in Sleeve Gastrectomy ?

The probability of leakage in stomach surgeries is 3% -5%. However, it can be said that the most common complication is illegal. The leakage problem is the most feared situation in these surgeries. But; if it can be detected, it does not need to be afraid.

A small test is performed by the doctor before the end of the surgery in order to prevent leakage after the gastric reduction surgery using the sleeve gastrectomy stomach method. Whether there is a problem occurs as a result of this test and necessary actions are taken. But; Most doctors who think of the possibility of this leakage later on will minimize this risk by performing a leakage test again within 2 days after surgery. After that, the probability of leakage is very low. Of course, the patient also needs to be careful in every way.

What are the Symptoms of Leakage in Sleeve Gastrectomy?

In order to understand whether there is leakage after Sleeve Gastrectomy; attention is paid to patient complaints. Experiencing excruciating pain in the abdomen and experiencing sensitivity so as not to touch it are the most common complaints. Also; There are also applicants with complaints such as nausea and vomiting, weakness, fever, palpitations. Such symptoms indicate the possibility of leakage.

An evaluation is made by making a blood test to the patient who has such complaints. According to the results of blood tests, the symptoms of infection may be high. For; As a result of leakage, the contents of the stomach pass into the abdominal cavity and cause infection. Therefore, such a result in the blood test will guide the doctors that there is leakage. It can be interpreted whether there is leakage by imaging the inside of the abdomen by ultrasound or x-ray.

The most common leakage symptoms after Sleeve Gastrectomy are pain in the upper stomach. The highest risk is in the first week, and in this period, expert opinion should be obtained about the pain in the upper stomach especially when something is eaten.

Problems that you may confuse with flu, such as fever and palpitations, are among the symptoms of leakage.

How is the leakage treated after Sleeve Gastrectomy?

In patients who seem to have a leakage problem, food intake should be stopped first. Thus, the foods that will go to the stomach are prevented from going to the abdominal cavity. The patient is then given antibiotics immediately and the leakage site is detected and closed. This can be done in two ways. Either the stomach is entered and the leakage is closed. Or you can enter from the abdomen and the leakage is closed outside the stomach. The doctor will determine which way is more appropriate. Finally, to say; If you prefer state hospitals for stomach reduction surgeries, you can have free surgery. But in private hospitals; Depending on the hospital, you have to pay a fee between 6 thousand and 30 thousand.

In the first few weeks in the process of leakage treatment after Sleeve Gastrectomy , intravenous feeding may be appropriate, a drain can be placed in the abdomen or a stend can be inserted into the stomach with endoscopic methods.

In this process, where early diagnosis and being close to the hospital are vital, your stay in the hospital varies depending on the treatments applied.

In order not to meet such a situation, your research should be one of the primary preventive measures to be taken. Except for mistakes caused by you, such as forcing your stomach, the laparoscopic surgical staff and specialties of the center you apply for should be investigated.

You want to have a Sleeve Gastrectomy but are you afraid of the risk of leakage? Or did you have a stomach reduction surgery and then did it leak? You can share with us what you wonder or what you want to share.