DS Lap vs Open

Hi,

I had Lap RNY in 2002.  I have just in the last 2 years regained weight.  I met with my surgeon and he said DS was an option.  However, he said he can only do it open.  I'm wondering on here if you can tell me a percentage of open vs lap DS procedures.  Does anyone know why he would say it can only be done open - is this because of going from RNY to DS?

 

5' 9" - HW 274 / LW 168 / CW 245

 

Yep your surgeon is correct that RNY to DS should be done open as it's very complex.  In this link is a list of surgeons that do RNY to DS revisions http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4630043/Current-l ist-of-RNY-to-DS-revision-surgeons/

Please be sure to get the best surgeon you can, as that's really important to having a good outcome.

There are only a few surgeons who do a true RNY to DS revision. It's a very complex, challenging operation, and much higher risk than doing a virgin DS. And yes, it is almost always done open, even if the RNY was done lap. the surgeon has to first put your stomach and intestines back to how there were before you had the gastric bypass, and then do the entire DS on body parts that have been damaged from the prior surgery.

I have never heard of the surgeon you have listed as doing the DS at all, let alone a RNY to DS revision. I would strongly recommend that you email the few surgeons who are known for doing this type of revision and doing it well. If you are where I think you are the closest would be Dr. buchwald in MN. Others include Dr. Roslin in NYC, Dr. Rabkin in San Francisco, and Dr. Keshishian in the Los Angeles area. You can find their contact info at dsfacts.com. I believe Dr. Simper in Utah has also begun doing these revisions.

 

Like HuneyPie said, get an experienced surgeon. Not just an experienced Bariatric surgeon, but one who has performed your exact surgery many many times.

I have never heard of a revision being done open. Well once, and the patient died. I would have read it here, I think, and it was over 2 1/2 years ago that I would have read it. Something about with lap the surgeon couldnt see her entire stomach and didnt realize part of her stomach had died. Dont quote me on details. I visited a few sites early on before my surgery.

At the time of my surgery, the majority of DS's were being performed open. Some lap, but the general consensus was open was better, maybe deemed safer. I know my surgeon does open so that he can see everything.

I dont think this particular topic has been discussed for a while, so things may have changed.

If you want details from everyone....
Surgery date: 10.11.2011. Open

Oh, I was a virgin DSer.

My DS was open and it was no big deal, really.  One thing to request is for your incision to be glued instead of sutured.  That made all the difference!