From RNY to?

 Hi lizp,

I agree with you, everyone should do their own research and choose what best suits their individual cir****tances.  I happen to think the DS is an excellent choice and if viable should be heavily considered.

I was fortunate to not have any dumping syndrome and no issues with my pouch.  No offense meant....I was just curious by your statement that's all and was wondering if perhaps there was some bit of "new" info I wasn't aware of.

Another member had forwarded this list to me....hope it helps. I can't verify the validity of it but from what I am told it is pretty accurate:
Post Date: 12/12/08 3:49 pm

It has been a while since this list was posted in its entirety.  Here goes:

-  Dr. Crookes in California performs RNY-to-DS revisions, but he is very selective.  He does not charge any program fee.
-  Dr. Cirangle in California and Hawaii has performed hundreds of DS procedures, including revisions from RNY.  One member reported on the Revision board that he charges an additional $7.5K fee over and above insurance.  He adjusts the fee in accordance with PPO insurance, according to a member on the DSIZ board.
-  Dr. Feng in California does not perform RNY-to-DS revisions.
-  Dr. Jossart in California has done 150 DS surgeries and has done many revisions (as of 9/2007).  One member reported on the Revision board that he charges an additional $7.5K fee over and above insurance.
-  Dr. Keshishian (aka Dr. K) in California performs RNY-to-DS revisions as well as GLB-to-DS revisions.  Members have reported that he is EXTREMELY anti-band!  However, he charges a $4K fee (not covered by insurance) upfront for revisions.  Plus, he requires his out-of-town patients to stay in town for up to 10 days after being released from the hospital.
-  Dr. John Rabkin in California performs RNY-to-DS revisions, according to several members on the DS board.  Diana Cox reported on the DS board that he charges a surgeon's fee upfront (around $10K) because he does not accept insurance assignments (that is, he is not contracted with any insurance company although he may have special arrangements with a couple of organizations).  Otherwise, he does not charge a program fee.
-  Dr. Robert Rabkin in California is retired as of 10/2007.
-  Dr. Gagner in Florida (formerly NY) performs RNY-to-DS revisions.  Members have reported that he is one of the best!
-  Dr. Hoddinott in Florida (formerly Pennsylvania) performs revisions.  However, it is not known if he performs revisions to DS.  He has moved his practice from Pennsylvania to Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala, Florida, where he practices with Dr. Overcash, according to a member on the DS board.  His phone number is 352-368-1661.  His website is http://www.floridabariatriccenter.org/
-  Dr. Maynard in Georgia performs virgin DS but not RNY-to-DS revisions.
-  Dr. Smith in Georgia performs GLB-to-DS revisions only.  He recently sent out a statement on his Yahoo group that he now performs RNY revisions to distal RNYs. However, he does not perform revisions to DS from either RNY or VBG, nor does he accept high-risk patients for the protection of his surgical stats.
-  Dr. Oakley in Idaho has no info pertaining to any revision to DS.
-  Dr. Edinger in Idaho has no info pertaining to any revision to DS.
-  Dr. Alverdy in Illinois evaluates case-by-case, but he is very selective on revisions.
-  Dr. Prachand in Chicago does RNY-to-DS revisions only if the BMI is over 50.
-  Dr. Inman in Indiana performs only GLB-to-DS and VSG-to-DS revisions and is no longer performing RNY-to-DS or VBG-to-DS revisions, according to Lori Black.  Instead, she revises all RNY to distal RNY (or "long limb" RNY).  She requires all out-of-town patients to stay in town for at least 3 weeks after being released from the hospital, according to an e-mail from her office which was copied onto a posting in 4/2008.
-  Dr. Husted in Kentucky (formerly California) performs RNY-to-DS revisions, as well as a number of other revisions, including GLB/VBG/other stomach stapling operations/MGB/VSG revisions, according to his website.  He mentioned to a member on the DS board that if the pouch has too much scar tissue, then the VSG portion would be too risky to be completed.  Instead, he would revise to the switch portion only and leave the pouch intact (looks like a revision to a distal RNY).  He has already moved to the Lake Cumberland Hospital in Somerset, Kentucky as of 9/2008.  Visit his website at www.johnhustedmd.com
-  Dr. Schweitzer in Maryland no longer performs RNY-to-full DS revisions, according to an e-mail sent by him to a member on the DS board.  However, he still performs other revisions.
-  Dr. Vanguri in Maryland performs RNY-to-DS revisions and has performed VBG-to-DS revisions, according to a member on the DS board.  The same member reported being pleased with the revision and Dr. V. is "absolutely wonderful!".
-  Dr. Hares in Michigan performs RNY-to-DS and GLB-to-DS revisions, according to several members on the DS board.  It appears that he also performs other revisions as well.
-  Dr. Lutrzykowski in Michigan wants RNY surgical reports before he decides if he will do RNY-to-DS revisions.  However, one member reported on the DS board that he is more than willing to perform VBG-to-DS revisions, since those are much more straightforward operations than RNY-to-DS revisions.
-  Dr. Ikramuddin in Minnesota performs open and lap virgin DS and apparently performs revisions.  He practices in the same clinic as Dr. Buchwald.
-  Dr. Buchwald in Minnesota performs RNY-to-DS revisions, according to several members on the DS board.  One member thinks he performs revisions on a case-to-case basis.
-  Dr. Anthone in Nebraska stopped doing RNY-to-DS revisions in 2006.  However, one member reported on the Revision board that he performs GLB-to-DS revisions for sure.
-  Dr. Greenbaum in New Jersey has performed more than 100 RNY-to-DS revisions.  One member mentioned in the DS board that he worked with Dr. Rabkin in California for about a year.  Several members have mentioned that he is an excellent surgeon, especially for RNY-to-DS revisions, and he has done excellent work!
-  Dr. Herron in NYC performs revisions.
-  Dr. Inabnet in NYC performs RNY-to-DS revisions and has performed hundreds of DS operations, according to a member on the DS board.  He also accepts high-risk cases.
-  Dr. Kurian in NYC performs revisions.  However, he no longer performs DS, according to several members on the DS board.
-  Dr. Pomp in NYC performs virgin DS but no longer performs revisions to DS, according to several members on the DS board.
-  Dr. Roslin in New York does DS.  However, when doing a revision from RNY, he makes it a distal RNY.  But he does not perform RNY-to-DS revisions.  In addition, he performs VBG-to-DS revisions on a case-by-case basis, according to a member on the DS board.  Plus, he performs GLB-to-DS revisions, according to several members on the DS board.
-  Dr. Shah in NYC performs revisions on a case-by-case basis.
-  Dr. McMullen in NY does not perform revisions.
-  Dr. Nicastro in NY does not perform revisions.
-  Dr. Sparks in NY does not perform revisions.
-  Dr. Sudan in NC (formerly Nebraska) is believed to perform revisions.  However, he has moved his practice to Duke University in Raleigh, NC, according to a member on the DS board. His address is: Durham Regional Hospital's Health Services Center; 407 Crutchfield Street; Durham, NC 27704; 919-660-2229.
-  Dr. Voellinger in NC does not perform RNY-to-DS revisions, although he does perform general revisions, according to a member on the Revision board.
-  Dr. Anderson in Ohio does not specialize in revisions at all.  Instead, she refers patients to Dr. Schumacher in Ohio, who performs RNY-to-DS revisions as well as other revisions, according to a member on the DS board.
-  Dr. Hess in Ohio is retired now.
-  Dr. Lane in Ohio usually performs RNY-to-DS revisions for those with higher BMIs but determines on case-to-case basis.  He also performs VBG-to-DS revisions.  He has moved his practice to the Dept of Surgery at the University of Toledo MC (UTMC) as of 7/2008.  His address is: The University of Toledo Medical Center; Department of Surgery-Bariatric Surgery; 3000 Arlington Ave., Floor 2C; Toledo, OH 43614.  His new phone number is 419-383-6932.  URL: http://utmc.utoledo.edu/clinics/bariatricsurgery/
-  Dr. Maguire in Ohio does not do RNY-to-DS revisions but does a distal RNY.  He told a member on the Revision board that he used to do the RNY-to-DS revisions for patients who insisted on them.  However, he mentioned that in his experience, his patients who had distal RNY revisions achieved the same weight loss results with lesser risks and fewer complications than with the RNY-to-DS revisions.  Therefore, he no longer performs the complete DS revisions.  
-  Dr. Teel in Ohio does not perform any revisions.
-  Dr. Thomford in Ohio has retired as of 2005.
-  Dr. Deveney in Oregon performs RNY-to-DS revisions, as well as revisions from GLB and old stomach stapling operations.  He also performs more complicated and higher-risk revisions (such as a MGB-to-VSG revision in late 11/2007).  In doing revisions to different procedures, he takes down (reverses) old procedures before performing new procedures.  He is very anti-GLB and very anti-stomach stapling, especially VBG.  The address and phone number as shown on duodenalswitch.com is incorrect and has been since the autumn of 2006.  The correct info is: Oregon Health & Science University; 3303 SW Bond Ave; Mailstop: CHH6D; Portland, OR 97239; 503-494-4373.  This info will remain until the keeper of the site gets around to making the correction as requested by me four times.
-  Dr. Bonanni in Pennsylvania has no info pertaining to any revision to DS.
-  Dr. Peters in Pennsylvania does not perform RNY-to-DS revisions and does not intend to get involved in them.  However, he does perform GLB-to-DS revisions and revisions from old stomach stapling operations.  He appears to be very anti-GLB from what was reported on the DS board and is more than willing to remove GLBs and VBGs.
-  Dr. Spaw in Tennessee does not perform any revisions of any kind, according to a member on the Revision board.
-  Dr. Stewart in Texas performs GLB-to-DS and RNY-to-DS revisions.  Several members have reported that he is open and honest with his surgical skills.
-  Dr. Simper in Utah performs RNY-to-DS revisions, as well as revisions from old stomach stapling operations.
-  Dr. Elariney in Virginia performs RNY-to-DS revisions, according to a member on the DS board.  Another member reported that he has a mortality rate of zero with revisions. 
-  Dr. Fichter in West Virginia has no info pertaining to any revision to DS.
-  Dr. Alcides Jose Branco Filho in Brazil has no info pertaining to any revision to DS.
-  Dr. Marchesini in Brazil performs RNY-to-DS revisions.  However, one member reported on the DS board that he often leaves an RNY-style pouch, which could be a distal RNY and doesn't turn out to be the full DS.
-  Dr. Antelmo Sasso Fin in Brazil performs RNY-to-DS revisions.
-  Dr. Ungson in Mexico performs RNY-to-DS revisions.  He also takes on cases considered too "complicated" or "high risk" by other surgeons.  Members have reported that he is considered one of the greatest DS surgeons.
-  Dr. Baltasar in Spain performs RNY-to-DS revisions and has trained Dr. Ungson.  One member on the DS board reported that he is one of the most experienced virgin DS and RNY-to-DS revision surgeons.  Plus, the same member reportedly paid $16K for the surgery plus $2K in traveling expenses in 2005 (the cost may have gone up since then).  Another member on the same board reported that he also performs VBG-to-DS revisions by taking down the old surgery and doing the full DS.

A number of members reported on the DS board that DS surgeons in California may charge upfront fees of $4K-$10K to cover services that are not reimbursed by insurance.  However, one member reported on the DS board that some of the fees may be refunded if insurance reimburses enough to cover them.

Further info about each DS surgeon can be found in the following link:
http://www.duodenalswitch.com/surgeons/surgeons.html
Note: A few DS surgeons are not vetted into that website.

Initial research done by Karla H.
Source: http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/karlahook/
Click on "September 2007" blog
This list last updated 12/12/2008

If any of the foregone info is incorrect or outdated, then please respond to this message with a brief explanation of the correct or updated info.  Thank you.

This washelpful Liz...thanks again.  I found the NJ doctor! I am so excited...I wil keep you posted!

You have one of the country's best revision Drs in your backyard.... David Greenbaum. He has a reputation for taking on the hard cases. I wasn't a hard case, but I wanted someone with the skills to handle anything he found when he opened me up.

I would have been sooooo happy to have been as close as you are to him! I traveled from Seattle for my surgery.

Revisions are very tricky. Educate yourself on what to expect, and choose your surgeon carefully.

and best of luck to you

Kathy

Thanks Wow you did travel a distance.  Whats your story if you dont mind me asking?

hi i heard Dr. Gagner is also very good,he is in florida right now,but will be relocating to new york in mid september. i aam also looking into a revision.           dana

I don't mind... no.

I've been overweight or obese or morbidly obese since I was in 2nd grade. In 1987 (at age 20-something and weighing about 320), I had a Vertical Banded Gastroplasty - an old stomach stapling. I never reached goal, but I lost about 130 pounds.

I kept it off for about a year... never losing more, but not gaining, either. Then the weight started coming back on, and when I reached about 260ish, I simply forgave myself for being fat. I'd been on every diet in the world and then done this drastic surgery, and STILL I was fat, so I figured it was time I just accepted it.

Amazingly, my weight stabilized ... hovering between 270... for about 15 years. I lived life... was a "healthy" fat person ... traveled the world (I was an airline employee), raised kids, was the fastest walker in the group, etc.

I turned 40, and was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, and then my knees started hurting and I was diagnosed with arthritis. My blood work indicated that diabetes was on its way, and my blood pressure was beginning to elevate. The party was over... you know?

Then about 2.5 years ago, my VERY active mother was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and died from it. She was 69. And I started thinking that though most of the women in my family live into their 90s, my mother had undermined her great genes by smoking for 50 years, and I was setting myself up for an early death with my weight. During the stressful six months between the time she was diagnosed and the time she died, I lost a bunch of weight. After she was gone and I began to eat more normally, I gained it all back and then some. At that point, I was *right* back to where I was prior to my first surgery 23 years ago.

BAH!

I started looking into a revision, thinking that the RNY was my only option, and HATING the thought of so much of what could come with the RNY (dumping, ulcers, minuscule food portions, no NASAIDs for my arthritis, etc.). Someone on this forum said, "hey, Kathy, have you considered the DS?" and it changed my outlook altogether.

I spent the next 6 months asking questions on the DS board, researching, reading and attending DS support group meetings to talk to those actually living with the surgery. I wanted Rabkin as my surgeon, but he wanted so much money up front, and he was out of network with my insurance. I considered Gagner for a while, but then gave up on him when I couldn't get him to correspond with me, and he ONLY operates lap  - I didn't want to go into surgery with a surgeon who would be so reticent about opening me up if I needed to be. Anyway, I got tired of waiting for him, and had read a lot about Greenbaum in the meantime.

Dr Greenbaum was very generous with the time he took to answer my questions via phone and email. He had a reputation of taking on the tough cases... sort of a rep for being McGuyver-like when he operated, AND had studied with and performed surgery with the Rabkins (at the time there were two Rabkin brothers sharing a practice).

Anyway, on May 4th, Dr Greenbaum revised my VBG to a DS with no surgical complications.The stress of surgery gave my heart a bit of a shock, though, and I ended up staying in the hospital for 10 days.... longer than the average.

Today is my two-month surgiversary, and so far I'm down 58 pounds, including the 20 I lost prior to surgery. I'm currently in a stall that's frustrating me to no end, but I'm hanging at the weight I was so stable at for so long... about 260. I know my body thinks this is where it "needs" to be, so I'm trying to remain hopeful that at some point it'll let loose again.

My emotional self is scared, of course, that I wont lose more ... but my intellectual self knows how unlikely that is.

I wish you all the luck in making your decisions. I know it seems like a huge pile of stuff in front of you that needs doing. Just plod through one step at a time and don't get overwhelmed. You'll get there, and you'll be a healthier you in the end.

xoxo

Kathy

Your awesome Kathy ...thank you so much! WOW...two months and you lost 58 pounds that is excellent! You go girl!! I wish you many bessings and I appreciate your time...you will lose the rest of your weight...hugs!

 A very wonderful and amazing story Kathy.  Thanks for sharing!

Perhaps your body is just adjusting to the new changes and will jump start again quickly.  I know after my revision to ERNY I had hit several stalls that I believe it was my body just trying to catch up.  But I do know just how frustrating and scary they can be!

Good Luck and I hope your stall ends real soon!

I am actually Just a little over a week post op from having my RNY revised...I had it revised to an ERNY with a non adjustable band put on my pouch. I actually had it done by someone right in your backyard. Dr Earl Noyan in Hamilton..He did my orig RYN in 2004....So far so good. I'm down 20lbs as of this am....

Best of luck with what you decide

Christine