Lap verse open surgery

I understand the advantages of Lap surgery but what are the risks verses open surgery. I am more than 200 lbs overweight, would lap surgery still work. I only know one person who had the surgery lap and she said she wouldn't do lap again and had leaks and problems. Ended up in ICU so I am concerned. though someone here can give me some information. Dianna

Dianna I started out at 336 and had lap rny and have had no problems.I hope everything goes well for you good luck Michael

They will probably want you to go on a pre-op diet to shrink your liver so they can get around it easier. There is some significant gas with lap surgery because they blow you up to move around inside. That will be coming out afterwards, and this can be very uncomfortable for a couple days. As for recovery, you'll have much smaller incisions, but the slicing and dicing is the same inside, so a lot of the pain and healing is the same. I had an open DS, and it really wasn't as bad as I was prepared for. Yep, I have a huge scar, but it's not like I've been wearing midriff shirts, or planned to do so any time soon. With the pain management advancements, I would say my pain level never raised above a 2 or 3 (on a scale of 1-10) at the most extreme moments. I was off of the pain meds within a few days of coming home. I didn't even have stitches, but a totally glued incision instead. Just know that Lap is not guaranteed. If they see something they don't like and are the least bit concerned, they won't hesitate to open you up. I kind of liked the idea of them being able to see everything easily to begin with.

Hi Dianna! I just had my lap DS seven days ago with Dr. Brian Lane in Wood County. I am 200 lbs overweight and had abdominal adhesions from 2 C-sections. I also had what Dr. Lane referred to as "the longest small intestine he has EVER SEEN - 27 ft!", yet I have recovered VERY quickly! A lap surgery is possible with the right/experienced surgeon. I did sign papers that explained that during surgery, if they found they could not continue as a lap procedure, I was giving them permission to open me. I did end up with two extra holes (because of my weird anatomy) but nothing else. Good luck on your journey! Terri Brown

The more I read about Dr's refusing to do Lap's on people heavier then 300lbs makes me wonder about their skill. I understand that the risks are greater, as with any surgery, with a larger patient but if this is your chosen profession why risk more complications going open then going Lap? A can of worms I know. I was 379lb the day of my surgery. I was advised that if there was a slightest hint of pending trouble Dr Needleman would go open but at our last meeting before surgery he said I'd do fine with the Lap and I did. My friend is going thru Baratric Clinic and is 60lb's lighter then I was at my surgery and they are doing an open because their instraments aren't 'long' enough to do a lap on her. WTHeck is that! I also didn't have to do a bowel prep or 1 wk prior to surgery liquid diet to shrink the liver. Dr Needleman said that was his job to get around on the inside not mine. I was back to work in 4weeks after my lap surgery. The first week was rough as to be expected. I was bored at home at the end of the 2nd week. Denise 398/379/298

Was told it is like doing a tune up on a car through the tail pipe. The stats show more problems with lap versus open. I had open and my looked over all my organs well lap they are looking through a scope.