Ok, my surgeon told me Thursday that they have to detach my spleen and it's tiny "fingers" of blood supplying veins from my stomach in order to do the sleeve and that there's a risk of internal bleeding because of that ... how did i not know that was possible complication until now? It wasn't part of any conversations I've had with the nurse or part of my EMMI prep program that explained the surgery in detail, why am i'm just NOW hearing about this part of it a week and a half before they operate? Is it just not a issue for most people? Did anyone have problems with that part of the procedure or am i just worrying for nothing?

I was never specifically told anything about my spleen. Although it was just my automatic assumption that anytime they are cutting part of an internal organ out there is a risk of internal bleeding.

I had a JP drain for two days after my surgery and had some bloody stuff coming out, but that is totally normal.

Although, that said, it depends on how much you bleed anyway. I'm not a bleeder and never have been. In fact, my surgeon was so concerned with my lack of bleeding during the surgery that he proceded to give me heparin every six hours post-op to prevent clots (DVT or PE etc).

So, if you know that you have a clotting problem, it might be a reason to get concerned. Otherwise its probably one of those "adverse events" that affects 0.01% of people who have the procedure.

My doctor never said anything about detaching the spleen. That's interesting...so interesting that I looked it up. There is indeed a ligament that attaches the spleen to the greater curvature of the stomach and it does contain blood vessels. I haven't heard anybody have internal bleeding issues from this. I would suspect that they cauterize the ligament when they detach it. If you're still concerned about it talk to your doc some more.

The short gastric vessels go from the greater curvature of the stomach to the spleen. The spleen is a fairly fragile organ so great care is taken when taking down the short gastric vessels. They don't detach the spleen, just the vessels. I had a splenic bleed during the surgery but it was controlled with cautery and hemostatic foam.