My surgeon told me that he removed 85% of my stomach, and what used to be the size of my two fists is now the size of my thumb. He said he used a 38 French??? Doesn't some surgeons use much smaller than that? Like a 32? I guess mine is the right size for me cause I still can only eat 1-2 Tbls per meal..if that. Can't imagine if it were smaller.

@@Forsythia and @@Recycled I don't really care either, but I thought it would be interesting to hear the difference in surgeons, etc. I find the topic interesting.

Edited November 7, 201411 yr by Jennifer Rogers

I'm sure that there's more that plays into it, but I wonder if the size of bougie that's used plays into the likelihood of developing a stricture. Obviously that wouldn't be the sole reason, but just wonder if there's a correlation.

I haven't a clue what my Dr used I'll have to find out day of surgery I weighed in at 258 so I have no clue

I know in the best practices paper I pulled, it indicated that it's best to have 32-36 french (the smallest size approved in the US is 32), and to have sutures along the length of the staple line to reduce leaking. There was more to it than that - but there were so many different variations and such that I was finding, I wanted to see if there was research to back it up.

http://www.bepatient.com/pdf/CAL/International%20Sleeve%20Gastrectomy%20Expert%20Panel%20Consensus%20Statement%202012.pdf

For anyone interested in what I found.

My surgeon used a 34 French. When I asked why he uses that, he told me it's just a guide. Surgeons use all different sizes, usually 40-32 French. Another difference he said is how tight they pull your stomach before stapling it. My surgeon uses a smaller one, but he said he doesn't pull the stomach tight around it, so it's a little bigger then a 34... Some use a 40, but pull it really tight around it. In reality mine could be the same diameter as that. Length of your stomach also plays a factor because they don't shorten your stomach from valve to valve.

I have no idea either but my post-op meal instructions are 2 oz every 3 hours and 2 oz does not fill me up. I do "cheat" and add another ounce and I am more satisfied with that. My follow-up was with his assistant so I won't actually see my surgeon until 2 more weeks at my next follow-up so I do plan on asking him how small my stomach is.

Mine will use a 34 French

The bougie is a tube to help guide the surgeon during surgery. My doc said that without it, some have actually had their stomachs cut in half!!! Eek!

The bougie tubes used may vary in size, but a surgeon using a 40 bougie could very well end up making a sleeve the same size as someone who uses a 32 bougie.

It really is the surgeon not the tube.

size? i do not know but my dr. did tell me that he made my sleeve "loose" because i had a low bmi.

My surgeon used a 34 French on mine

Exactly what others have said... If they pull loosely around a 32 I could be the same size as pulling tightly around a 40. And if they oversew the staples that makes it tighter as well. It's about the doctor and what works for him/her not typically about the patient, though some will vary their size or technique for certain classes of patient.

Mine used a 34F and oversews the staple line but I have no idea how tightly he pulls it before stapling.

I think he said he uses a 36, but as I understand it, the doc's technique can affect pouch size as much as the bougie size. My doc does a smaller sleeve in general, 85%-90% so technique may explain that. Doesn't seem possible that I'm living quite contentedly with 90% of my stomach gone, but I am!

32. My unprofessional opinion is it's too small. I lost way more than needed within 4-5 months. Now I'm at a point where I'm sick of dealing w/ the random issues and am taking a break from doctor visits.

I think he said he uses a 36, but as I understand it, the doc's technique can affect pouch size as much as the bougie size. My doc does a smaller sleeve in general, 85%-90% so technique may explain that. Doesn't seem possible that I'm living quite contentedly with 90% of my stomach gone, but I am!

My surgeon used a 38F and removed 85%-90% of my stomach as well. Interesting.

Mine was a 36 bougie