Des Moines Surgeons...who have u used? Who do you NOT recommend?

Dr Beck did my surgery. She is an excellent surgeon. She did my gallbladder when she was a resident 17 years ago. I am not as fond of the program. If you have any ? e-mail me privately if you want.

FYI Des Moines Register: Document DisplayDes Moines Register Estimated printed pages: 4 October 21, 2003 Section: Main News Page: 1A Surgeon says patients knew risks Leys Tony Santiago Frank Sagario Dawn Staff Iowa Methodist doctor sorry for recent deaths By TONY LEYS, FRANK SANTIAGO and DAWN SAGARIO REGISTER STAFF WRITERS A Des Moines surgeon who abruptly quit performing stomach-reduction surgeries this month said Monday he routinely told prospective patients that a few people had died of complications after he performed the operation. Dr. Akella Chendrasekhar acknowledged in an interview that six of his 190 patients died after gastric-bypass surgery at Iowa Methodist Medical Center over the past three years. No prospective patients changed their minds after hearing about the deaths, he said. "They would say, `Well, it's highly risky surgery.' And we'd say, `Are you sure you want to go forward?' `` The interview was the first time Chendrasekhar spoke publicly since hospital officials announced Oct. 10 that he had decided to stop performing gastric-bypass surgery. Later Monday, relatives of two patients disputed his assertion that he was forthright about deaths in the program. Monday evening, the doctor reaffirmed through a spokeswoman that he gave the warnings. The surgeon expressed his condolences in the interview and in a prepared statement. He said five of his patients died this year, and one died last year. Medical officials also said another doctor's patient died this year after having the surgery done at Methodist. Chendrasekhar, 41, was one of two Methodist surgeons performing the operations. He said he decided to stop doing them because they took up too much of his time and emotional energy. He defended his record, saying he and his staff always carefully explained the significant risks, which included leaks, bowel obstructions and heart attacks. Sabrena Gullickson, whose mother died after undergoing the procedure, said she never heard him talk about deaths. "He mentioned that there was a risk, but nothing about fatalities," Gullickson said. "For somebody who has this surgery, they need to be told -especially if it's that drastic." Gullickson said she went to appointments with her mother, Margaret Gullickson, 59, of Des Moines. Chendrasekhar performed the surgery on Margaret Gullickson Feb. 16. She died July 16 after several return trips to Methodist for corrective procedures by Chendrasekhar, her daughter said. The sister of another patient recalled Chendrasekhar saying none of his patients had died. Linda Barton said her sister, Jan Dixon of Des Moines, had serious complications after undergoing the surgery May 2. Barton recalled asking Chendrasekhar on June 24 if Dixon, 42, was strong enough to survive a subsequent operation to remove a gel-like pocket of infection. "He told me that he had not lost a patient yet, and Jan was not going to be his first," said Barton, who lives in Ottumwa. Chendrasekhar went ahead with the operation the next day, Barton said, and Dixon died a day later. The surgeon said Monday that his mortality rate, which was slightly more than 3 percent, was within national norms for the procedure. A national study of 10,000 surgeries showed a death rate of three per 1,000, or 0.3 percent, within 30 days of the original surgery. Chendrasekhar said that study included less-risky procedures that he called less effective. Also, some of his patients died more than 30 days after the surgery. The increasingly popular operation involves closing off much of the stomach, so a person can't eat much. The stomach capacity is reduced from about a quart to the size of a golf ball. Chendrasekhar said his patients were very overweight and understood that their lives could be shortened by obesity complications, such as diabetes and heart problems. "This surgery is not about cosmetics," he said. "This surgery is about saving lives." Even with the six deaths, he said, he is confident he saved more lives than were lost due to complications. When the surgery is successful, the results are dramatic, he said. People who were always shunned because of their obesity are able to rejoin society. "It's just incredible. They hug me -I become a member of their family," he said. "I have patients tell me they're able to go to an amusement park and go on the rides they're able to sit in theater chairs and go to the movies." He said he carefully screened patients. Some were turned away because they weren't psychologically ready to follow the strict diet required after surgery. Others were deemed too young, too thin or too frail. But no doctor can predict beforehand who will suffer complications, he said. The doctor said he plans to resume other types of surgery, including trauma cases. He expressed faith in the hospital's peer-review process, in which other doctors examine unexpected deaths. He wouldn't comment on whether that process led to any suggestions about the way he practices. He also wouldn't comment on a seventh case, involving the 2001 death of a Des Moines woman he treated at Metropolitan Medical Center. He said he hadn't been contacted by the Iowa Board of Medical Examiners, which regulates physicians' licenses. The leader of his employer, Iowa Clinic, said someone from the board recently checked to see if Chendrasekhar was in the country. The official was told that the surgeon was in India, where he tried in vain to save the life of his uncle. Chendrasekhar said Monday that he regretted suddenly leaving the United States without talking to the relatives of his patients, two of whom died while he was gone. "My absence during a time of crisis for my patients' families added to their heartache and grief. And for that, I am truly sorry." Reporter Tony Leys can be reached at (515) 284-8449 or [email protected] ABOUT THE DOCTOR EDUCATION: According to his resume, Dr. Akella Chendrasekhar, 41, earned degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Arkansas before graduating from the University of Miami School of Medicine in Florida. EXPERIENCE: He then served as a surgical intern and resident at Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York and was a fellow at the University of Minnesota Hospitals. CERTIFIED: He is certified by the American Board of Surgery. Photo_By: HOLLY McQUEEN/THE REGISTER: Regretful: Dr. Akella Chendrasekhar, the surgeon who has recently stopped performing stomach-reduction surgeries at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, talks to The Des Moines Register on Monday. Copyright (c) The Des Moines Register. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.