Historically, individuals suffering from obesity and its comorbidities who sought help only had surgical options to choose from. Out of all of the individuals who qualified for surgery, only 1% of them actually went through with it, and the majority of them chose gastric sleeve surgery. Also known as vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LS), gastric sleeve surgery is the least invasive of bariatric surgeries.

Today, these patients have a much less invasive option to choose from that offers similar results but without gastric sleeve risks or recovery. Today, we are going to provide a brief overview of each procedure and compare their risks and recovery.

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What Happens During Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

While the patient is under general anesthesia, the surgeon makes several small incisions in the patient's abdomen. These incisions are used as entry points for special tools such as a laparoscope (a tool with a camera and a light that guides the surgeon via live video) and other thin surgical instruments that will be used during the procedure. About 80% of the patient's stomach is cut away and permanently removed, and the remaining edges are surgically stapled together. The laparoscope and other tools are removed, and the incisions are closed with stitches. Patients are sent to a recovery room for a few hours and then transferred to their hospital room, where they will stay for a day or two before being discharged to go home.

Patients lose weight because the stomach can only hold a very small amount of food at each meal, and removing a very large portion of the stomach also removes the glands that produce ghrelin, which is the hormone that causes feelings of hunger. Also, patients must allow ample time for their stomachs to heal and must follow a liquid diet for an extended period of time, which greatly restricts their calorie intake. It can take patients anywhere from four to six weeks to recover.

What Happens During The Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) Procedure?

While the patient is sedated, the doctor uses an endoscope (a thin hollow tube with a camera and light source that easily bends to slide down the patient's throat) to access the patient’s stomach. Once in place, the endoscope is used to allow a special suturing device and other thin medical tools to enter the stomach to perform the procedure. The doctor manipulates the stomach into a small, elongated pouch that is about 75% of its normal size and then places sutures in different locations to hold it in place. The tools and endoscope are removed

, and the patient is taken to a special room where they will undergo a few hours of observation before being discharged to go home.

Patients lose weight because they can only eat very small portions to accommodate their much smaller stomach capacity. Their stomachs also take longer to empty, so they stay feeling full much longer. After the procedure, the patients must stay on a liquid diet for about two weeks to allow their stomachs to heal, but because no incisions were made, they do not have any activity restrictions. Most patients are back to their normal schedule in about three days, which means they don’t have to miss much work and can begin or resume their exercise routine.

How Do The Gastric Sleeve Risks Compare To Suture Sculpt ESG?

Research has shown us that Suture Sculpt ESG has fewer associated adverse effects than that of gastric sleeve surgery. An analysis combining results from multiple studies found that the average rate of adverse events was 2.9% for patients who underwent endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) and 11.8% for those who had laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). The analysis indicated that ESG had a significantly lower rate of complications compared to LSG.

<table class="iksweb"><tbody><tr><th></th><th>Incidence of Bleeding</th><th>Instance Of GERD</th></tr><tr><td>Gastric Sleeve</td><td>2.6%</td><td>5.8%</td></tr><tr><td>ESG Suture Sculpt</td><td>1.1%</td><td>0.4%</td></tr></tbody></table>

GERD is known to be a common side effect of gastric sleeve surgery. A systematic review reported that up to 34% of individuals develop GERD after gastric sleeve surgery, and 74% of patients who are severely obese have an issue with GERD after gastric sleeve surgery. The reason for this is said to be the location of the newly formed smaller stomach pouch and the lower resting esophageal sphincter pressure.

Longer Procedure Time

Gastric sleeve surgery takes between an hour and two, depending on the patient, compared to endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, which takes a highly experienced doctor about 45 minutes. Gastric sleeve patients have to stay in the hospital for a few days after their surgery, and studies showed that those released the same day had increased rates of morbidity, were readmitted to the hospital, and had to undergo additional surgery.

ESG patients can be discharged on the same day as their procedure.

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Gastric Sleeve Risks

• Potential complications related to general anesthesia;
• Leaking from suture/staple line (1 % - 3%);
• Damage to nearby organs during surgery;
• Infection;
• Excessive bleeding;
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT);
• Stomach tears;
• Gallstones.

Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty Risks

• Risks associated with the sedation used;
• ESG Patients may experience mild stomach discomfort, cramping, and nausea for up to a week following but this is normally alleviated with medication;
• Tears in the stomach <1%;
• Stomach bleeding <1%.

Suture Sculpt ESG Is A Better Alternative To Gastric Sleeve

When you consider the gastric sleeve risks vs. ESG, it is clear that non-surgical Suture Sculpt ESG is a much better option to help individuals with obesity lose weight. The weight loss potential of the two procedures is similar and primarily depends on your dedication to implementing and practicing lifelong behavior changes that will promote a healthy weight.

We have seen numerous patients lose substantial amounts of weight after undergoing Suture Sculpt ESG; some even lost over 100 pounds. Take a look at some of our patients before and after ESG testimonials and see for yourself!

We Can Help You Lose Weight Without Surgery Or Gastric Sleeve Risks

Contact Batash Endoscopic Weight Loss Center to learn more about Suture Sculpt ESG and how it can help you improve your health through weight loss. Our expert obesity-trained team will provide you with all the support, strategies, and tools you need to navigate through the challenges of your weight loss journey. Set up your consultation today!

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