Information for the public

How well it works

How well it works

NICE said that the procedure should only be carried out as part of a clinical trial because there wasn't much good evidence about how well it worked or how safe it was. The studies that NICE looked at involved a total of 335 patients.

Generally, they showed that:

  • Patients lost around 10–50% of their excess weight (although some weight was put back on 6 months after the sleeve was removed).

  • Control of diabetes improved.

  • Levels of cholesterol, triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood) and blood pressure were lower.

  • The sleeve could not be inserted successfully in a few patients.

The studies showed that the risks included:

  • bleeding

  • nausea and vomiting

  • the sleeve moving out of place

  • blockages in the digestive system

  • pain

  • damage to the throat or oesophagus (gullet)

  • inflammation or development of a polyp (fleshy growth) in the bowel.

If you want to know more about the studies, see the guidance. Ask your health professional to explain anything you don't understand.

Questions to ask your health professional

  • What does the procedure involve?

  • What are the benefits I might get?

  • How good are my chances of getting those benefits? Could having the procedure make me feel worse?

  • Are there alternative procedures?

  • What are the risks of the procedure?

  • Are the risks minor or serious? How likely are they to happen?

  • What care will I need after the procedure?

  • What happens if something goes wrong?

  • What may happen if I don't have the procedure?

  • Information Standard