title: Sleeve gastrectomy: have we finally found the holy grail of bariatric surgery? A review of the literature.
abstract: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has become one of the most commonly performed bariatric operations. It is essentially a restrictive bariatric operation; however, a series of hormonal changes occurring postoperatively contribute to decreased appetite and reduced food intake.
  
  
  
  This is a literature review of recent articles published on Pubmed, Medline and Google Scholar databases in English.
  
  
  
  Although, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is commonly performed worldwide, there is still a lack of standardization regarding the surgical technique. Standardizing the surgical technique is essential in order to minimize postoperative complications and offer patients the best long-term weight loss.
  
  
  
  Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy appears to be an effective bariatric operation. It is relatively easy to perform, well tolerated by the patients and very effective regarding long-term excessive weight loss and resolution of the comorbidities, with minimum nutritional deficiencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Nutrition Support and Morbid Obesity Unit, University Hospital of Patras, Greece. ikehag@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kehagias
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zygomalas
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karavias
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karamanakos
mesh_terms: D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss