Opinions on the best revision Specialist out there

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could provide their opinion of the best revision surgeon in the states. I have now had a total of 5 surgeries and still don't have a working RNY, my puoch was just rendered yuseless die to scar tissue as well, long story with many complications but I am looking to consult with the best as my case is quite detailed and unusual. Thanks.

Hello Cindi, I am sorry to hear of your situation. I have had only 1 surgery and go on the 12th to see my Bariatric Surgeon in hopes of getting a revision. From what I have read on this site so far it seems the DS may be my best route. Good luck to you and please keep us posted on how things are going for you. P/S...did your medical insurance cover all 5 of your pocedures? Laura

Did you already have an RNY first? Yes, insurance seems to be covering their 80% but my 20% is in the thousands and rising with all of the procedures I have had.....

Have you ever heard of Dr. Husted in Nashville, TN?? He is a renownd surgeon, and does, Lap Band, RNY and DS surgeries. I am a complicated case, because I had my first stomach stapling in 1982 and a revision of that in 1989 when I had my gallbaldder taken out. The Dr. said he would "tweek" my WLS, so he added another staple line and a band at the plyours to slow exit from the stomach. I had blockage that built up to so that by 1998 I could not even keep water down very often. I had to have surgery to remove blockage and with out my consent, he reversed my WLS. During that surgery an aurtery(sp) to my stomach was transected and caused a compromised blood supply to the stomach. I have talked with 5 top surgeons in SC and NC, including Dr. Strickland, Dr. Chapman, and Dr. Vollenger, all of whom are excellent surgeons and who all said I was too risky a patient and could NEVER have any further stomach surgeries as it could cause my stomach to die from lack of blood. I had given up all hope of any help, but was sent several emails from people on this board who persuaded me to see Dr. Husted, and recomended I watch 2 shows about his surgeries on Discovery Health Channel. Well, after a year of toying with the idea, hubby and I made the trip to Nashville and met with Dr. Husted and staff. They WILL be able to help me by doing the intestinal portion of the DS and NOT operating on the stomach itself. I can still take of much, 70-75%, of my excess weight, but not have to worry about the compromised blood flow to the stomach. He did say that while he was inside and could access the stomach he would evaluate the previous damage and see if he could do any further work in that area to complete the revision, BUT ONLY if it was SAFE to do so. Dr. Husted is the surgeon that other surgeons send complecated revisions to for help. So you have my vote for excellent surgeon for complecated revisons, Dr. John Husted in Nashville, TN!! Patty

Amazing...just met with him on Wednesday...it took me an entire day of travelling then while on the plane home I got very sick with another intestinal bleed. Needless to say I just got out of the hospital this evening so therefore could not update any sooner.. I am really at wits end as I have been getting VERY different opinions and need to do someting ASAP I am in a great deal of pain and keep having this unexpeced recurring bleeding episodes and again after scope #8 and a blood scan they sill can't find it. Dr Husted's opinion was that he could go in open and create the sleeve for me, step 1 of the DS but only step 1. He thinks I am too risky for step 2 at this time (the intestine completion). He also said he would not go anywhere near my pouch area as he feels its way to scared and to risky to poke around with. He would like me to have a stomach emptying study first to see if my stomach would even take to the sleeve as I am having a problem with emptying. Spoke with Dr Anthone on the phone and he outright told me the only thing he could do is reverse my RNY and no DS. He said my situation is such a mess (not in those exact words) that he could not perform a ds at all, ever. Spoke with my original surgeon again, the one from 20 years ago, Dr Brolin, who indicates he could repair my RNY pouch and has no doubt at all that he could do it. His words are he never saw a pouch he couldn't fix, complete opposite of what Dr Husted said, he also said he would not consider a sleeve as long term he feels it won't help me to achieve the weight loss I need. Dr Keshishian, I was supposed to go see him next week but have to cancel as I cannot travel that far in my present cnditoin. As my little trip for Fl to Nashville wound me up in the hospital again, not sure if it was coincidence or just too much, can't do to much and the plane ride home was the worst, excruciating pain followed by bleeding. My present surgeon in Fl who I just spent the last 2 days with in the hospital still feels he can repair my pouch after 4 attempts to do so. That is where I am at the moment and still not feeling too well, a miracle they let me out with a hemoglobin of 7.25 but got 4 pints of blood and it seems to have stopped for the time being. This was bleed number 4 since July, number 6 since Feb.

I had a revision after multiple surgeries __ intestinal bypass, reversed intestinal bypass w/horizontal stapling, and finally in 1986 a vertical banded gastric stapling. Well, I had major, MAJOR complications because of the scar tissue. I had to have the band removed because of the damage it was doing to my stomach and my body was full of mold from the band as well. I did not believe I wouldhave complications because I had always recovered so well before. Well, this time, things didn't go so well. I had the revision on 8/10/2005. The doctor kept me a bit longer in the hospital. I was in the Medical Center in Houston, Methodist Hospital. On 8/15/2005, I had a leak that went septic and a second surgery was done immediately. I didn't think I would survive the surgery. All my organs had to be removed and cleaned and God knows what else. Anyway, I survived. I ended up with an "open wound" with a fistula (leak) that drained right into the open wound. What a mess!!!! I was in the hospital until September 1, and went back in on Sept 20 so the surgeon and gastro doc could put a bulb in the fistula to force what I swallowed (only saliva at this point). I have not had any food since 8/8. I have to get my nourishment through an IV of TPN (nourishment and protein) and glucerna thru a feeding tube to keep my intestines active. I had major antibiotics until 2 weeks after I returned home from the hospital 9/1. I have a "pick" line in my arm to handle the IV's. The TPN is a 14-hour IV. After my 8-day hospital stay on September 20, I was finally able to use a device called a "wound vac" for the open wound. The wound is healing very quickly now and my doctor is extremely pleased with the progress. At one point I told the Dr. I couldn't do this and was told I needed to be patient -- this could take months. Given the complications I had and knowing what I know today -- the risks were clearly explained, I would not have done this. I am extremely lucky to be alive. When I went septic the Dr. could not believe I was not in severe pain. Had I been released to the hospital, I probably would not have survived. My Dr. was excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would like more info on your five surgeries. Thanks.