Need mor info... Dr. Pompa

Hi Everyone,

I am new to this space and am planning on having surgery in late June/ early July. 

I have a BMI of 35 and no comobidities, so I will not be approved by my insurance... oh well...
MEXICO here I come.

I have been researching doctors and have a process for selection.  I start with an initial set of questions and then deep dive based on the response.  I am close to deciding on a doctor, Dr. Pompa, but the office will not answer my second round questions.  Myquestions are below and Dr. Colin, the dietician's answer is in BLUE.

Should I be concerned?  What is the protocol.  Did everyone pose questions by phone only?

This is what I asked and the response:
ROUND1:

1. Will you be in the operating room during the entire procedure? I don’t go into the OR, only the surgical staff does that, this included the head surgeon, 2^nd surgeon, anesthesiologist, surgical nurse, the doctor in charge of the floor, and the nurse that circulates the surgery, but I’m in touch with the patient before and after and I’ll give a call to your family members to let them know when your surgery is finish.
2. Is everyone of the medical team licensed? Everyone is licensed, the head surgeon, Dr. Pompa, is the only one that performs surgeries and she has a board certification by the American College of Surgeons and by the American Association of Bariatric surgery, you can check this in our web page, no one that works here would be able to work with this team if they were not license.
3. What pre-op testing will be done? We perform a complete blood test (BCC, General Testing, Glucose, Liver functions, Kidney functions, Clothing times, Blood type, EKG and a pre-op evaluation but the Specialist of internal medicine, if he requires different testing like chest X-Ray, Thyroid Hormones or any other that was not on the past list then there will be an extra fee for each, the basic ones are included)
4. What post-op testing will be done?  How many Barium Swallow tests? We perform 2 post-op test, the first Is at the OR with a blue dye test to make sure that we can close the wounds on the cavity and finish the surgery. The second test is perform at the 3^rd day after the surgery, before your discharge so we can check the size of the sleeve but mainly to make sure there no leaks, this is a Hydro soluble contrast liquids that you drink and we do an live X-ray with a fluoroscopy, all done in our facilities. We give to each patient a surgical report with a copy of the x-ray images.
5. Please provide her statistics regarding complications and outcomes with VSG.  We have not had any complication, but you should know that there is a less than 1% chance to have on if it´s your first time surgery and a 5% change if it´s a revision surgery, we believe that by using our strict protocol for preventing complication we have keep with our 0% complication rates.
6. Do you have patients who are willing to share their experiences with me? Yes we do, I can give you several phone numbers for you to call and ask them any question they may have, you can go to www.youtube.com  and check on limarp testimonials for more referrals.
7. What boughie size do you use? We use the smallest that can be use (32 French)
8. How many rows of staples? Depends on each patient but most of the times is around 5, the stapes are made of titanium, 100% hypoallergenic.
9. Does this doctor over sew also? Imprecate the edge of the stomach by folding the edge over and over sowing it.  We only staple we do not over stitched because it´s proven that this reduces the blood flow to the wound area and could lead to a leak.
10. What intravenous drugs are given? Basically we provide antibiotics to prevent infections (the type will depend on your allergies history), Anti nausea, Anti acid medication, Anti-inflammatory drugs, pain killers (depending on your pain tolerance it´s the type of drug that we use), IV solutions, Anesthesia medication, that basically will depend as well on your allergy history.
11. Post op drugs, blood thinners? Post op drugs are the same as I just mentions, the blood thinners are apply to patients that the Internist prescribe, this will depend on your medical back grown history and risk to have a cloth.
12. All inclusive... this includes all surgical expenses, correct?  What hotel brand and type of room? This includes the surgery, Surgeons fee, Anesthesiologist fee, 2 nights at the hospital and medication requires this 2 nights, 2 nights at the GRAND HOTEL, this building is a twin tower the other tower is the hotel and they are connected between each other so patient don´t have to be transport from one place to another, we actually check you on your room if it´s necessary while you stay there, we make appointments for you to come and have your wounds check every day that you stay there. The package does not include the oral medication that you will take home, this will be on a prescription that you can fill at the pharmacy that is in the same building, it does not include any complications fee or material use or extra testing.

Other Procedures

1. I have friends who are considering other surgeries, what is the current rate for Gastric Banding (LapBand or Realize Band), Breast Implants, Tummy Tuck, veneers? Our all inclusive package for the lap band is $XXXX dollars, the breast implants are $XXXX dollars, including everything as well, transportation, hotel night (in the case of the breast implants is 1 night at the hotel and 1 at the Surgical Unit, in the lap band case is 2 nights at the hotel and 1 night at the surgical unit), The cost of the veneers depends on the size of the work, to have a cost will need to see some pictures from the patient and to know how many he needs and if there is anything else that he or she may need.

I hope this helps you more, in case that you have any other question please feel free to call me and I´ll gladly will answer all your question.

 

 ROUND 2:

1.            (UPDATED) Will Dr. Pompa be in the operation room during the entire procedure? 11.       (UPDATED) Post op drugs, blood thinners? I decided to look into doctors in Mexico because I am self pay.  My doctor here puts all of his patients on blood thinners to avoid any risk of clotting Can Dr. Pompa provide the same service? 13.       How many has Dr. Pompa performed? 14.       How many surgeries performed at this location? 15.       Is there a Hospital near by? 16.       What are the emergency procedures if a patient needs to be admitted to the hospital? 17.       How long has Dr. Pompa been doing Sleeve Surgeries? 18.       How many deaths have Dr. Pompa Had? 19.       How many leaks have Dr. Pompa Had? 20.       How many infections have Dr. Pompa Had? 21.       Will I have a drain tube? 22.       Will you use a catheter? 23.       Will the records be in English? 24.       Post Surgery pain killers - What will be provided?  25.       "it does not include any complications fee or material use or extra testing"  Pleas clarify.  Does this mean if staples are used for the surgery, I would need to pay for them?  What is the complications fee?  If there are issues post surgery, i.e. a leak, would I need to pay the associated costs to cover the revision?

We would like to help you more ones you decide on our facilities, please give me a call for more information regarding our surgeon, facilities or statistics, we are here to help.

Hello need2bthin! have you called the office yet, they always answered everything for me by phone, by the way i recommend them 100%, im out 2yrs postbariatric surgey and have returned to LIMARP to do my plastics, everything is top notch!

I called this afternoon.  I work basically 12 hour days and prefer email communication.  I think they must get a lot of emails from "coordinators" so they prefer to talk in person after the first round of questions.

I saw your before and after... great.  I also am planning plastics and wanted to return to the same facility.

Thanks for responding.  I just need to pick a date and then I will be counting down.

Wife had a Gastric bypass 3/1/10 with Pompa Place clean. everyone nice English good with ones u communicate with, safe everything went real smooth wife is down 61 pounds in 2 months, would go to these people again & might for Plastics
                         Small hicup We were told that stapling might be extra as my wifes BMI was 54  (yours was 35 i think so u shouldn't have any trouble) What I didn't know was the extra was 1000.00 which wasn't a good thing so make sure what might or could happen to your final bill
                               Things went good with us there & u should be fine also