Surgeon mortality rate

Hello, I am thinking of going with Dr Zuccala in Danbury for my surgery. Does anyone know how to find out how many deaths, if any, a surgeon has had during gastric bypass surgery? Also, if anyone has had this surgeon, can you tell me about your experience? Thanks, Mousie

Hi, Here's Dr Zuccala's info, but it does not list any mortalities on this page. I would call his office and ask straight out. At Dr Aranow's seminar, someone flat out asked him "How many deaths have you had since you've started doing this?" And he answered readily and without holding back. I belive he's had one or two. Ask them, and ask if the death was related to the surgery itself, or was it due to a co-morbidity due to obesity. I know that one of Dr A's patients died, but it wasn't from surgery. It was due to complications from the cancer and other co-morbidities she had before surgery. http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+profile+Keith+Zuccala+gpb.html Good luck, paula

I don't have an answer for you about your surgeon, except that you need to ask him this directly. Just as important as mortality rate is other complication rates so, please ask about this too. For example, I have this info on Dr. Aranow, who was my surgeon. PLEASE NOTE: this info is dated- it was accurate as of 11/2004. Dr. Jonathan Aranow, a surgeon Middlesex Hospital's Center for Bariatric Surgery, has performed over 600 obesity surgeries since 2001. Average weight loss: 114 pounds Improvement in, or cure of, diabetes: 97 percent Improvement in, or cure of, hypertension (high blood pressure): 96 percent Improvement in, or cure of, acid reflux disease 98 percent Improvement in, or cure of, sleep apnea: 100 percent Complication rates: Death .3 percent; Gastric staple line leak .3 percent; Blood clot .5 percent; Pneumonia .5 percent; Stricture 3 percent; Wound infection 1.5 percent; Obstruction .75 percent "These results are better than national averages and it is clear to see that patients at Middlesex Hospital who have undergone the surgery have had very positive results." Best, Lisa C

Lisa, I'm sure that Dr A has updated stats because of having to furnish them to be accepted as a "Center of Excellence". But, I don't think he's had much change in them. He told Bob in May that he's not had a major complication in a LONG time... paula

I'm sure you're right. Those just happen to be the figures I had handy. I'm hoping that Mouse will use them as an example of what she should be asking for from her surgeon of choice, rather than using them as a comparison for figures! Thanks! Lisa