Question:
Large stoma syndrome

Hi Everyone: What exactly is a large stoma syndrome. I just read a heartbreaking post of a woman who had one. It must be your worst nightmare, after life-threating complications. I feel so fortunate, because at 3 months out I am still not hungry. It seems as if this woman never had a chance. She was able to eat almost anything right away. When my doctor gave me a list of complications to sign before surgery, he said there is a 1-2% chance of no weight loss, but never mentioned this complication specifically. In the lady's profile, it mentions as more people have WLS, this complication will show up more often. Anyone ever hear about this?    — Grace H. (posted on November 28, 2002)

November 28, 2002
Yes. Not me, but it APPEARS to follow horizontal, non-transected pouch style. Part of the problem is the very proximal nature, with the wider, stretchier part of the intestine being used for the stoma. The pouch also is using the stretchy greater curvature side. When these 2 techniques are used together, the pouch & intestine often "merge" and become one size. The people I know basically have no restriction right away. The way this arrangement works is kinda like a "chute". These can be hard to fix, too, because the pouch is stapled so near the esophagus on that side that there isn't much room to build a new, vertical pouch. If you are looking at several pix of RNY styles, this one kinda shows the esophagus going down into pouch, horizontal staple line, stoma/intestine over on right side. You can see the "chute" effect. Looking at other sketches, you see the pouch has a vertical cut or staple line, looks more like a little box or actual pouch. Intestine is attached. Unfortnately, I have met several people with this phenomenon and they have not been able to be repaired. This has nothing whatsoever to do with will power or what they did or did not do. It's not a character flaw of the victim in any way. It's purely mechanical. And heart breaking is an excellent way to describe it.
   — vitalady

November 28, 2002
There is even a new group started on yahoo for people with a stretched Stoma. My surgeon puts a silastic ring around the stoma to prevent this problem. So far so good for us.
   — faybay