Did you have a gastric sleeve leak and if so what caused it ???

[KII 0]

I recently had my sleeve 20 days ago and even though I am perfectly alright I just keep thinking about the leaks and if I will randomly just develop one and all the Google searches I made are not really helpful

Do you know why a leak might occur and when can I be sure that I am out of risk for that and relax

Are they common?

Any information at all?

[FifiLux 97]

I had one as a complication after sleeve surgery and it was found a month later when I collapsed at home and had to go by ambulance to hospital. The cause was suture failure.

My symptoms then were weakness (could barely stand), fever, nausea with vomiting and abdominal pain. It is a rare occurrence so if you are not suffering with any of these I think you don't need to worry, you are just causing yourself unnecessary stress when you are already going through enough to deal with following surgery and coping with food planning etc.

I also had other complications post surgery with pancreatitis and abdominal abscesses so basically anything that could go wrong did, I ended up spending three months in hospital over a period of four months.

They closed the gastric leak by using clips and mesh via gastroscopy but that failed, twice. I now have a tube coil like thing that was inserted in order to drain Fluid and hope that the hole will then have time to heal and close.

The only information I was given in advance of the surgery about it was that it could happen but the surgeon did not go into detail and just said she had never had a patient have a leak, guess I am her exception if she will admit it to others in the future. No other details given to me such as cause/effect/symptoms.

Edited February 18 by FifiLux

[summerseeker 1,856]

This is the first time in 4 years on this forum that I ever heard of a leak. It must be rare. This surgery is so safe these days. Stop frightening yourself reading about stuff that might never happen.

[KII 0]

Thankyou very much for the replies

[Tomo 1,138]

I never had a leak but a relative did. The stomach takes 6 weeks to heal and she split open her sutures by not following plan. She ate solids way too early.

[Aunty Mamo 16]

The statistics say that 1% of VSG patients experience a leak and that they usually occur because solid food was consumed too early, or from physical trauma/injury to the area. With that said, I know the anxiety youʻre talking about. I only have this knowledge because I deep dive into things Iʻm afraid of.

[Melissa89 9]

On 3/9/2024 at 8:31 AM, Aunty Mamo said:

The statistics say that 1% of VSG patients experience a leak and that they usually occur because solid food was consumed too early, or from physical trauma/injury to the area. With that said, I know the anxiety youʻre talking about. I only have this knowledge because I deep dive into things Iʻm afraid of.

I also had this fear. 1% chance is world wide and I’m guessing you had your surgery in a western country and good hospital so chances are closer to 1 in 500 chance. Moreover 70% of the time they happen in the first week. So your odds are very very slim. Just follow food instructions and you will be fine best of luck