Staple Line ?'s

[LKuhns]

I am having my surgery Nov. 29th and I have a few questions I forgot to ask my surgeon. I am still concerned about the staple line. I guess that is my biggest concern regarding the surgery.

1. The staples they use - do these dissolve eventually or are they permanent staples?
2. How long does it take the staple line to completely heal?
3. What should I avoid doing to decrease my chance of leaking or blowing my staple line?
4. Once the staple line completely heals do have to continue to worry about leakage? Or does the chance of a leakage complication go away once the stomach is healed?

I sure hope I don't have to worry about my stomach (what's left of it) falling apart the rest of my life.

Thanks for your thoughts on this!

[belindagale]

Mine was glued no issue at all in fact was healed by my 2 week post op appt. He said if i was really vain about the scare to use vit. e gel or oil and i would never know it was there. i was so worried about the same issue but it was least of any issues. Docs take good care of us.

[Ann2]

Belinda, I think LKuhns is talking about the staples that are holding her sleeve together.

Those sleeve staples are titanium and are permanent.

I have the impression that it takes a few months for your new sleeve edges to knit together and form a new sleeve wall. This is why we should be very careful to follow our eating instructions early on and not overeat either.

Three years and nearly 3 months post-op, I’m now eating 1800+ calories a day, including 8 daily servings of veggies and fruits. My sleeve is not about to pop. Yours won’t either.

Finally, I have heard only rarely of “healed sleeves” developing a leak. I don’t know the incidence rate, but it’s got to be in the “one in thousands” neighborhood (just a guess).

[Gege1061]

I am having my surgery Nov. 29th and I have a few questions I forgot to ask my surgeon. I am still concerned about the staple line. I guess that is my biggest concern regarding the surgery.

1. The staples they use - do these dissolve eventually or are they permanent staples?
2. How long does it take the staple line to completely heal?
3. What should I avoid doing to decrease my chance of leaking or blowing my staple line?
4. Once the staple line completely heals do have to continue to worry about leakage? Or does the chance of a leakage complication go away once the stomach is healed?

I sure hope I don't have to worry about my stomach (what's left of it) falling apart the rest of my life.

Thanks for your thoughts on this!

Hello!
GREAT questions. I am having my surgery Thursday and am preoccupied with the leak factor. I have been researching and honestly they are rare. I am going to put that issue on the back burner for me as I don't want to overthink. Ask your doctor as well, how often he has experienced a leak. Good luck to you.

Gege

[Dutchie]

I am having my surgery Nov. 29th and I have a few questions I forgot to ask my surgeon. I am still concerned about the staple line. I guess that is my biggest concern regarding the surgery.

1. The staples they use - do these dissolve eventually or are they permanent staples?
2. How long does it take the staple line to completely heal?
3. What should I avoid doing to decrease my chance of leaking or blowing my staple line?
4. Once the staple line completely heals do have to continue to worry about leakage? Or does the chance of a leakage complication go away once the stomach is healed?

I sure hope I don't have to worry about my stomach (what's left of it) falling apart the rest of my life.

Thanks for your thoughts on this!

1. they are permanent, made of titanium
2. 3 weeks
3. eating solids before you are allowed to
4. never heard of it, but what Ann2 said makes sense

[Christie13]

Follow the rules and take it easy. Leak rates are pretty low. I don't worry about my sleeve whatsoever!