Some complications may develop in some patients after sleeve gastrectomy. Such complications develop especially when you do not follow the nutritional advices.
These complications include abdominal pain, stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, etc..
Dumping syndrome develops when foods pass through the stomach and enter the small intestine before being completely digested. Dumping syndrome may lead to sweating, diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps. The risk of dumping syndrome after sleeve gastrectomy is lower than the risk after bypass surgery. It is because the pyloric sphincter muscles that ensures the passage between the stomach and small intestine remains intact after sleeve gastrectomy.
According to a study, dumping syndrome was observed in 29% of patients, who ate foods with high sugar and fat contents after sleeve gastrectomy. In addition, if you have high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes before surgery, you are at an increased risk of developing dumping syndrome.
All gastric surgery procedures pose the risk of bleeding, like any other surgical procedure. However, the rate of risk is about 2%. A small portion of patients with bleeding problem may require an additional operation. Most of patients with bleeding problem recover without the need for additional surgery.
Gallstones can develop after sleeve gastrectomy, due to rapid weight loss. The risk of developing gallstones is about 30%. If gallstones have developed after surgery, cholecystotomy is performed with the decision of the surgeon.
The patient may develop intolerance to certain foods after sleeve gastrectomy. Nutritional intolerance is similar to dumping syndrome. Vomiting, nausea, pain, swelling and diarrhea may be observed. Nutritional intolerance can involve almost all foods but is more likely to involve certain foods listed below.
• Red meat, white meat, fish meat
• Raw and uncooked vegetables and salads
• Bread, rice and pasta
The risk of developing nutritional intolerance after sleeve gastrectomy is lower than the risk in other bariatric surgery procedures such as gastric band, duodenal switch, and gastric bypass. To avoid nutritional intolerance after sleeve gastrectomy, you should chew foods thoroughly and eat as slowly as possible.
In summary, you can avoid most of the risks mentioned above, by following the diet advised after bariatric surgery. You can avoid possible risks by staying away from foods with high sugar and fat contents, and by taking nourishment sip by sip, piece by piece and slowly.