Sleeve Gastrectomy: Medicolegal Aspects

In the last 10 years laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has become the most commonly performed bariatric procedure superseding the laparoscopic R-en-Y gastric bypass which many bariatric surgeons consider the gold standard. The rapid acceptance of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in the bariatric domain as a stand-alone procedure was fuelled by its technical simplicity and the continuous improvement of modern stapling guns providing a reliable, secure, and haemostatic long staple line. As the general public’s appeal for sleeve gastrectomy increased many Upper GI surgeons without formal bariatric training undertook these operations leading to bad outcomes and fuelling litigation. Insurance premiums for surgeons performing bariatric surgery are generally higher than general surgery. In this chapter, we cover the medicolegal aspects that could influence sleeve gastrectomy procedures.