I have COPD - is it safe for me to have Gastric Sleeve surgery?

Yes, gastric sleeve surgery can be safe for patients with COPD, and in many cases, it can actually help improve your breathing and overall lung function. Excess weight places additional strain on the lungs and respiratory system. By achieving significant weight loss after surgery, many patients with COPD experience:
Easier breathing and reduced shortness of breathImproved exercise toleranceLess strain on the heart and lungsBetter overall energy levels and quality of life
However, a thorough preoperative evaluation is very important. Your bariatric surgeon and pulmonary specialist should work together to assess your lung function, manage any COPD-related risks, and develop a plan to ensure a safe surgery and recovery.
Every patient is different, so discussing your specific medical history with your healthcare team is the best next step before moving forward.

As long as you have COPD under control, it is not a contraindication for a gastric sleeve, you have to have spirometry

Gastric sleeve surgery can be safe for individuals with COPD, but it depends on the severity of your condition, your lung function, and overall health. Since COPD affects breathing, any surgery requiring general anesthesia carries added risks, such as respiratory complications or difficulties weaning off the ventilator after surgery.
Your surgeon and pulmonologist will likely require lung function tests like spirometry, arterial blood gas analysis, and possibly a chest CT scan to assess how well your lungs are working before approving you for surgery. Anesthesia can depress breathing, so your anesthesiologist will need to evaluate your lung function carefully to minimize risks like post-op respiratory failure or pneumonia.
If you are significantly overweight, losing weight through surgery can actually improve your breathing in the long run by reducing the pressure on your lungs and diaphragm. Many COPD patients experience better oxygenation and less breathlessness after weight loss. If you are a smoker, quitting well before surgery is crucial, as smoking worsens COPD and increases surgical risks like poor healing, infections, and breathing difficulties post-op.
You may need extra oxygen, breathing treatments, or pulmonary rehab after surgery to help prevent complications. Incentive spirometry, a device that encourages deep breathing, will also be crucial for preventing lung infections. Since the gastric sleeve is performed laparoscopically, meaning smaller incisions and quicker recovery compared to open surgery, it is generally beneficial for COPD patients as it reduces the strain on the respiratory system.