- It is performed under general anesthesia and with a minimally invasive laparoscopic approach (4-5 small incisions from 3 mm to 10 mm)
- The surgery consists of a partial vertical resection of the stomach (partial vertical gastrectomy).
- It involves dividing the stomach into two parts vertically using special mechanical sutures. The left part of the stomach, which corresponds to 80-90% of the whole stomach, is subsequently removed after having isolated it from its vascular connections with the spleen.
- The stomach that remains in place takes the form of a “Sleeve” (= Sleeve) whose volume will be approximately 100-150 ml. The final portion of the stomach (gastric antrum) remains intact.
- The remaining stomach part will have the same functions as before the surgery. Its action is mainly restrictive, associated with a metabolic component.
- This in fact does not modify the physiological transit of the food that is ingested, even if an accelerated gastric emptying is observed.
- The surgery must be considered anatomically irreversible as regards the part of the stomach removed.