Technical modification for sleeve gastrectomy.

INTRODUCTION The surgical technique of sleeve gastrectomy has not been fully standardized and, therefore, there are issues to be solved. There is a tendency to increase its application due to proved efficiency in weight loss, low morbidity and good postoperative results. However, gastroesophageal reflux disease, which can result from it, is still not well understood. AIM To present variant technique for sleeve gastrectomy that leaves the stomach totally with the appearance of a homogeneous tube, without manipulation in pyloric and lower esophageal sphincters. TECNIQUE Vertical gastrectomy starts with vessel ligation of the greater curvature at the pylorus till esophagogastric angle. Stapling also starts from the pylorus in the same direction. For modeling was used Fouchet 32 F and all the staple line was done just to it. At the end, oversuture of the staple line and "sump" drainage were done. RESULTS The procedure was used in 55 patients with BMI between 35 and 41. Complications in this group were two fistulas at the esophagogastric angle, one twist of the gastric tube and one postoperative conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass due to untreatable gastroesophageal reflux disease. Fistulas were treated by endoscopic procedure with dilation and septotomy. Mild dysphagia due to tube twisting responded satisfactorily to dilatation. The longest follow-up was two years. The loss of overweight was 67.7% at one year and 69.7% in two. Patients who were suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus showed disease control in 84.6 % in the first year and 91.6 % in the second. Comorbidities were controlled in all cases. CONCLUSION The variant technique proposed here for sleeve gastrectomy leaves the stomach homogeneously in a shape of a tube and in small caliber, providing small free gastric cavity and keeping natural functional activity of the sphincters. However, it may lead to unwanted gastroesophageal reflux, which needs to be better measured in future research.