Surgeon techniques

My surgeon uses some techniques that I have not really seen anyone post about here. Instead of the bougie, she uses an endoscope to size the stomach. She said it is about a 32 french, or roughly 66 cm. Does that sound right? It seems a little on the small side to me, but what do I know.

Also, she does a leak test before she closes me up. She will run water (?) over the staple line and make sure there are no leaks. She said she likes to do this so that she doesn't have to operate again if there are any problems. This makes a lot of sense. Plus, I won't have to drink that nasty barium stuff! Yay!

Any one else have their surgeon use an endoscope for sizing??

Yep, that sounds like the way mine was done. No leak test required!

My surgeon used the exact same technique with the endoscope which was also equal to a 32f bougie. Also the leak test was also done prior to closing me up, however rhat did not exempt me from a swallow study the next day. I am 3 weeks post op and doing excellent.

Same with me. Surgeon used an endo, did the leak test during surgery and no barium test. 

Im shore its not 66 cm maybe 66 mm , that is the smallest normally used size , the leak test during surgery is common some do both during and the day after to be safe , some make you drink a blue dye and watch the drain for the blue if there is a leak

Everything sounds good, I've never heard of water over the staple line before to check for leaks but sounds pretty harmless.

Leak tests can actually cause unnecessary bleeding and if there is a leak, I don't believe it is a quick fix anyway.

A 32 French is on the small side, which in my opinion is a good thing.

"We" tend to get soooo overwhelmed with all the steps involved in WLS and can't get past the WL part.

The WL part is a big step in the process and the "reason" why we are doing this in the first place.

We put so much emphases in the thought of getting smaller and healthier.....It's hard to think past the WL part and maybe even question if we will actually lose all the weight before we can even think about long term.

The reality is that WLS and making the proper lifestyle changes is "much more" about keeping the weight off that you lost !!!!!

There will be some that say .....It doesn't matter what size your sleeve is..... you have to eat the right things in the right amounts. Well, that is very true....But the long term the combination of eating right and still having effective restriction has much more advantage in weight management. Simply put, smaller sleeves have a much lower long term regain rate.

The VSG is a restrictive type surgery with some metabolic advantages. Restriction being a huge part of the system. Sleeve size determines restriction with a capacity limit..... What is a VSG without or very little restriction?????

WL can happen with just about any size sleeve, just like a person can lose weight without WL surgery.

Sleeve size comes more into play long term.

Smaller sleeves have a "smaller eventual capacity"

A proper made 32f will start out with about a 2oz. capacity and mature to about a 4-5oz. capacity.

Eventual capacity for the VSG (non standardized) ranges from about 3oz. to 16oz.+ Some people will say the size differences are "miniscule" 3oz. to 16oz. is not miniscule.

Who is going to have it harder long term, a person that has a capacity of 5oz. or a person that has the capacity of 10oz. ????

Are you doomed if you have a larger sleeve.... No, Will you have to try harder..... probably yes.

Hope this helps.

frisco

Yes, same technique and also no nasty testing after surgery. My surgeon said they use a dye to test for leaks before closing me up.

Thank you all for your responses! I appreciate you taking the time to tell me your experiences!