There is a question I have heard more and more frequently in recent days: "Whoops, I am gaining weight. Whether my stomach is enlarged?". Our patients make a request that "Sir, can you take a scopy and see if my stomach is enlarged?". The volume of the stomach left behind after sleeve gastrectomy is around 50-70 mL and the volume increases slightly over time due to the flexible structure of the stomach wall. Scopy provides two-dimensional visualization of the stomach anatomy. In this way, we can display abnormal enlargements that can be observed due to opening in the sleeved stomach, stenosis or surgical interventions that are not performed in accordance with the technique. This method does not allow us to measure the stomach volume precisely because it provides a two-dimensional image.
Today, thanks to advanced software, it is possible to accurately calculate the volume of the stomach with three-dimensional computed tomography. However, the number of centers using such software in our country is very limited. I suggest a very practical method for you to estimate the stomach volume, even if it looks very primitive compared to 3D CT. Let's apply together. Drink as much water as you can at once, where you sit. The amount of water you can drink without feeling clogged will be roughly the same as your stomach volume. As far as I have observed so far, our patients could only drink about 200 mL of water at one time after one year. A 200 mL stomach also means that its volume is still quite limited and small compared to the capacity of a normal stomach - about 1000 mL.
Daily calorie input is more important rather than the capacity of the stomach for a person who is worried about “I am gaining weight, is my stomach enlarged?”. As we mentioned at each meeting, high-calorie foods rich in carbohydrates and fats are the main enemies of patients who have undergone obesity surgery. Therefore, you need to change your lifestyle and avoid high glycemic index foods, never neglect to drink water and make regular physical exercises a routine part of your life.