23 May 2023

Leak Symptoms After Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery is one of the most performed surgical operations in bariatric surgery. Although the operation stands out with its patient comfort and success rate, it has a certain risk of complications, just like any surgical intervention. The first of these is the problem of leakage in the tube.

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Leak Symptoms After Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery is one of the most performed surgical operations in bariatric surgery.

Although the operation stands out with its patient comfort and success rate, it has a certain risk of complications, just like any surgical intervention. The first of these is the problem of leakage in the tube. However, the problem of leakage in the tube can be detected in the early period thanks to regular physician follow-up, and it can be completely prevented with the right physician preference.

What Causes Tube Leak?

Gastric sleeve surgery is an operation with a low risk of complications under normal conditions, but from time to time, a leak problem may occur due to a hole that is not fully closed during the operation.

In the problem of leakage, which is usually caused by the lack of a physician, the person's not taking good care of himself and not following the recommendations can also be effective. As a result of the problems experienced in the discharge of gastric juices or in the absorption of nutrients, the gastric tube is displaced and ruptured and the gastric fluid spreads into the abdomen. Leakage, which has a 2% risk share in all gastric tube surgeries, can be corrected with an urgently planned additional surgical intervention.

How to Tell if there is a Leak in the Tube?

Having a leakage problem in the tube is a serious problem and can cause serious health problems in the person.

Therefore, it is vital to diagnose the problem at an early stage and to consider the following symptoms in the patient:

fast heartbeat
High fever
Shake
Vomiting
Abdominal and chest pain
difficulty breathing
Fluid or inflammation from the incision site
Weakness
No or less urination

If the above symptoms are noticed, it is necessary to consult a specialist immediately. Leakage problem, which is usually corrected with surgical intervention, can lead to very serious health problems if not treated in time.

What Are the Other Risks of Tube Stomach Surgery?

During sleeve gastrectomy surgery, various complications may occur depending on the general health status, age and effects of anesthesia.

Although these complications occur rarely, they can be listed as follows:

Bleeding

There is a risk of bleeding in all surgical operations, the same is true for sleeve gastrectomy surgery. However, experienced surgeons can reduce this risk to zero by controlling bleeding at the end of the operation. Otherwise, serious blood loss problems may occur.

Stomach Injuries

In rare cases, instruments used during surgery may damage the stomach and cause injuries. However, since the stomach wall structure is thick, these injuries do not pose a serious risk and do not cause life-threatening problems. If there is a perforation in the inner layer of the stomach, there is a risk of leakage, and this risk can be avoided as a result of a detailed examination.

Lack of Vision

Patients with a high body mass index are in a more risky group for surgery because the rate of fat in the inner abdominal tissue is quite high in these people. The high rate of lubrication means that the physician's vision decreases and the operation is more difficult to control. As a result, minor injuries and bruises may occur. However, these risks are rarely observed in operations performed by specialist and experienced surgeons.

Liver Injuries

In people with a high body mass index, the rate of liver fat may be advanced and there may be additional health problems. Liver tissue may be damaged during surgery as a result of the surgeon's lack of observation and attention. Additional bleeding in the liver, which is already dense with adipose tissue, may increase the risk of infection in the patient and carry a serious risk.

Besides all these; All of the situations such as the patient's hiding of his past diseases and insufficient examination are risky in terms of surgery. However, all of these risks occur rarely and are controlled under the supervision of a specialist physician.

Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery Dangerous?

Although rare, serious complications may develop in sleeve gastrectomy surgery. One of them, the problem of leakage in the tube, is one of the most risky situations that can occur after surgery. However, with the right technique, monitoring and control, it ceases to be a risk. Therefore, the choice of physician and hospital is extremely important in sleeve gastrectomy surgery.

When considering all stomach operations, sleeve gastrectomy surgery is the least risky procedure, but the person's age, weight and general health may increase the risk factor somewhat.

After sleeve gastrectomy, a special liquid is given orally to the patient and thus leakage in the stomach is controlled. During hospitalization, the patient is kept under close surveillance and is not discharged until it is understood that there is no problem. However, the individual is also responsible for preventing the development of leakage in the next period. Even if there is a leak, it can be detected early and corrected in people who are fed as recommended and go to physician control at regular intervals.

How is Leak Treated After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

After sleeve gastrectomy, leakage can occur in any part of the stomach and in different sizes. Since the problem of leakage is evident within the first 3 days, leakage tests are regularly applied to the patient during this period. If a leak occurs after the patient is discharged, the person applying to the clinic with the relevant symptoms is retested. In addition, blood tests are evaluated to check for the presence of infection. After the leak is detected, the treatment that can be applied to the person may vary.

If the leak is very slight, it is sufficient to rearrange the gastric tube position.
In the treatment of more serious leaks, a new gastric sleeve surgery may be recommended, and in more serious leaks, the gastric tube may need to be removed.
At the end of the operation, drug therapy can be tried to reduce the risk of leakage in the person, in this way, pain complaints can be reduced.

Early diagnosis is extremely important in the treatment of tube leakage and reduces the risk of complications. The earlier the leak detection is done, the less the amount of infection and affected tissue will be.

In addition, the problem can be treated without the need for a second operation. For this reason, if you notice the symptoms of leakage after sleeve gastrectomy surgery, you should immediately consult a specialist.

Tube leakage and other operation risks, which are usually caused by the inexperience of the physician, can be easily treated in skilled hands. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right specialists before the surgery.

If you want a careful and careful application while getting rid of your obesity-related problems, you can get advice from DMAX experts!