Hi all! So this morning, my mom brought up the prospect of leakage with the sleeve surgery (she's a nurse and it's something I hadn't even thought of until now). Now I'm starting to get worried! Does anyone know the percentage or statistics on this? Is there anything that can prevent leakage? Anything that causes it? Or is it just bad luck? Thanks in advance!

I as told that 1% of people will get a leak.. but each doctor will have their own leak rate based on how many surgeries they have done and how many patients ended up with a leak. My surgeon was about 1%.

I think leaks are just a possibility that can happen with this surgery.. with any surgery there are things that can go wrong with the patient. I just hoped I wouldn't have one.. and I didn't. Leaks can be and are fixed.. but I hear it's no fun at all.

I guess it's just the risk we take going under the ol' knife.

Hi all! So this morning, my mom brought up the prospect of leakage with the sleeve surgery (she's a nurse and it's something I hadn't even thought of until now). Now I'm starting to get worried! Does anyone know the percentage or statistics on this? Is there anything that can prevent leakage? Anything that causes it? Or is it just bad luck? Thanks in advance!

Its one reason we have the post op liquid diet... to help keep stress off the new staple line in the stomach. Part of the cause may by your DR, Part is how we follow the diet and part is the state of your stomach before surgery...some have erosion from the band or scaring from some other surgery or problems. I was also told 1%. I had no problems.

I'm still holding my breath, since I'm almost 4 weeks out. I had my first feeling of fullness today, so I'm assuming that my stomach is healing.

Following your post op diet is absolutely one way to avoid leaks. Most surgeons do what they call a leak test while your under or day two post op! They tell us what we are to eat and avoid to prevent this.

I'm five days out and I don't have a leak but my stomach is spiraling (slightly twisted). Since I left the hospital I've been feeling good just a little tired and hopefully as the swelling goes down my new stomach will straighten itself out 

You might consider asking your surgeon how many sleeves he/she has performed, what number of those experienced leaks and how many have experienced other types of complications. I have a feeling that this information will put both your minds at ease.

It depends on your background, as mentioned above. For a "virgin" stomach I think it's about 3% (US stats current as of about 4 mos ago). If you're aback-to-back revision (removal/revision in the same procedure) risk jumps to about 30%. Revision with a waiting period between runs about 8% IIRC. I didn't memorize the numbers so these could be off, but their to the best of my memory. Stats will also vary source to source.

I am the 1% I got a leak and an abscess on 3/19 and was originally sleeved 3/5. My stomach for whatever reason necroted by one of the staples and it came apart, causing the abscess (the leaked out fluids from your tummy are isolated into another part of your body), mine went to my diaphragm. My dr's had one other one in 2009 and that was due to the dude taking a gulp from his drink from Sonic. I"m thinking Sonic, carbonation.... um not following the diet? IDK....on his but I followed instructions to a t and still was the crazy 1% that this happened to.

It is RARE for this to happen from everything I've read, but do speak to your dr. about any incidents he's had and how he's addressed them.

If you want more info, feel free to inbox me..... but no, I don't regret the surgery. I've lost 51 lbs so far... of course I was on Clear liquids for over a month, but.....I just hope to keep losing......

I hope your mother finds a way to support you in your decision instead of giving you reasons to doubt it. Doubt is normal, as is a mother's concern, so not sure If I'm reading your original post correctly or not. I know if my parents had still been alive, well I couldn't have afforded all of this for one, but they would have given me so much negativity I probably would have never gone through with it. God bless my in laws though... they have been absolutely supportive. But did I doubt my decision? Yes.... but still glad I did it.

ive been through hell, ive had a leak at the age of 15 and 8 months i think, the leak was healed when i almost turned 16, they put 2 stent inside me for months, ive been through HELL REAL HELL!

It depends on your background' date=' as mentioned above. For a "virgin" stomach I think it's about 3% (US stats current as of about 4 mos ago). If you're aback-to-back revision (removal/revision in the same procedure) risk jumps to about 30%. Revision with a waiting period between runs about 8% IIRC. I didn't memorize the numbers so these could be off, but their to the best of my memory. Stats will also vary source to source.[/quote']

I've seen this revision figure before, but no one can ever give me a source for the 30% figure. Does anyone have it, because that is a *massive* complication figure. I asked my surgeon and he said that he has never heard of a complication rate for revisions that high. He said he was under the impression it was about 30% greater than virgin stomach...not a 30% rate.

Anyone have the figures somewhere? I'm self-pay for a revision, and if there is for real a 30% leakage rate for revisions I will have to cancel. No way can I take on a one-in-three chance of having hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills.

I'm five days out and I don't have a leak but my stomach is spiraling (slightly twisted). Since I left the hospital I've been feeling good just a little tired and hopefully as the swelling goes down my new stomach will straighten itself out 

How do u know ur stomach is twisted? Is there a test or did u have certain symptoms?

My doctor did another endoscopy to see .

Oh okay

I've never heard of revisions having a 30% chance of a leak. Dr. Aceves does many, many revisions, and I am sure he would have told me that. He rarely does anything but

doing the band removal and the sleeve all in one surgery. He did mine all at once, and never said one word about this being more chance of getting a leak. I am sure he would have told me that.

Following your post op diet is absolutely one way to avoid leaks. Most surgeons do what they call a leak test while your under or day two post op! They tell us what we are to eat and avoid to prevent this.

Good to know!