PLEASE READ

On 7/31, my 3rd surgervisary, I heard of a tragic death of a local 18 year old WLS patient.  She went to Dr. Gadelaetta from Northshore.  The autopsy showed the stomach was detached from the intestines.  She hadn’t eaten in days and just sipped some water or crystal light.  She vomited a few times but no one thought anything of it.  The doctor never did the leak test and I think it may be negligible homicide… not sure yet.  Her parents didn’t want her to have the surgery and now they are blaming themselves.  It’s all just so sad. 

While I personally, did not know this person, it truly troubles me!  How could this happen today in 2009?  Just wondering if anybody has heard of anything similar lately?

I believe we need to ask our doctors or advise everyone we know who is researching WLS to inquiry if their doctor does this required leak test.

Thanks for listening and lets help spread this VERY important news!

CALL MY CELL ASAP PLEASE

 Hiya Fern,

Can't find your cell #.  I'll pm you mine.  It is charging now so call me tomorrow.

later gator.

That is horrible news. I can't imagine any doctor not doing a leak test. Why wouldn't you use everything at your disposal to check and double-check that it is all working properly?? Thanks for the post.

MY DOCTOR DID TWO DIFFERENT LEAK TESTS....THIS IS SO SAD. MY HEART GOES OUT TO HER FAMILY

I'm so glad to hear he does!

Prayers for the family of this poor girl.  How incredibly sad.

Hey Tina,

    Dr T. usually does one leak test. I was having pain in a weird spot so he did a second to make sure. It ended up just being my drain tube laying on a nerve. As soon as he removed the drain I felt like dancing, tha pain was instantly gone!!


A week from today!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be saving you a seat on the losers bench right next to me :)

Good Luck!
~Sheri

Hi, Thanks for posting this. I did hear of a young woman passing, not sure if it the same one. The one I heard of was home a few days. Where did you hear this?  BTW, I just love your 30 seconds of fame!  I'm a Dr. Ahmad patient too!! I'm waiting for my revision to RNY from Lap Band

I never had the leak test, the one surgeon from that hospital requires it, so the nurse was going to send me for it...but that surgeon wasnt mine, my surgeon said he doesnt require the leak test...my surgeon moved to another state so im only under my pcp's care right now...I should start coming to support group meetings, but I always forget when they are :(

I would be very careful of posting a phrase like "negligible homicide" and a real doctors name in a public forum.  Yikes!  That is slander.

We don't know all the true facts.  Perhaps the medical team asked to do a leak test and the patient refused?  Perhaps a test was done and it showed there were no issues?  It is so easy to second guess.  We are all told of the risks of WLS up front; it is tragic that this young woman lost her life.  But all post-surgery complications would be counter-acted if they were discovered in a timely manner; just having a leak test is not a guarantee.

Sadly when you consider statistics, some people will be on the high end, others the low end, and still others in the middle.  We who lived to post here were the lucky ones.  So many other beautiful people have not lived after WLS - and their stories are just as poignant and tragic.