PLEASE stop telling people that open surgery is only for rare, special cases!

Cicerogirl, The PhD
Version
on 6/18/12 7:34 am - OH

Ok, I have hit my limit. In the last two days there have been about 5 different posts where people have mentioned that open RNY is ONLY done in "rare" or "special" cases or when the surgeon goes in lap and finds a problem and "has" to resort to open... and that people shouldn't use a surgeon who wants to do open surgery!

Sorry, folks, but that is simply not true. Yes, in some cases lap surgeries must be converted to open, and in some cases there is a special reason that open surgery is medically the optimum choice, but there are also some WLS surgeons who simply CHOOSE to do open surgery for a variety of reasons (it is faster on those who are SMO, it is easier to see what is going on, there is less chance of nicking an enlarged liver (just 2 weeks of liquid or low fat diet cannot completely undo years of liver enlargement!), there is less chance of twisting of the intestine resulting in an internal hernia, etc.)

Yes, MOST surgeons do laparoscopic surgery these days, and the lap surgery is less traumatic to the body and involves less muscular healing time (the internal healing takes the same amount of time regardless of whether it is one large incision or 5 or 6 small ones, though), but please don't imply that any surgeon who chooses to do open surgery is a quack who should be avoided at all costs and that someone who is planning to use such a surgeon should immediately run out and get a different one. Perhaps someone who is brand new here doesnt feel comfortable justifying why their particular situation makes open surgery better for them or why they feel more comfortable with a surgeon who does many/most surgeries open. Yes, they should question whether or not a different surgeon (and lap surgery) might be a better choice for them, but having open surgery is hardly the end of the world and tantamount OT barbarism!

lora

14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained

You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.

courtwillbehealthy
on 6/18/12 7:37 am - burlington, VT

i was told it is only done as an last resort by my surgeon. and they are Very rare. so for some of us its what we were told. :/

poet_kelly
on 6/18/12 8:04 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

It sounds like your surgeon only does them as a last resort and does them very rarely. But that's not the case with all surgeons. In fact, there are some surgeon that only do open surgeries because they prefer doing it that way or never learned to do it lap. So the fact that it's rare for your surgeon to do an open surgery doesn't mean they are rarely done by anyone.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

courtwillbehealthy
on 6/18/12 9:17 am - burlington, VT

:) i was just saying alot of people "feel" that way because its what they know. nothing more. i understand there not "rare" in an over all view But i didnt untill i was told so. just like i thought they were because i was told so. its hard to know whats correct sometimes because you get told so many different things. im one of those people who figures. if there told it by there nut or dr it must be true. untill i came on here and found out thats not true at all :P

poet_kelly
on 6/18/12 9:22 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

Oh, I hear you. I imagine most people would assume what their surgeon said was accurate, unless they learned somewhere else that it was different. I don't think anyone is angry that you or anyone else said open RNY was rare or a last resort if you were just repeating what your surgeon said. I think it's more being angry or annoyed that surgeons aren't giving accurate information. You know, a surgeon could say "I only do open surgeries as a last resort but some docs do them more often than I do." How hard is that?

You didn't do anything wrong.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

courtwillbehealthy
on 6/18/12 9:30 am - burlington, VT

it would make life alot easier if they were more clear about it thats for sure. ^.^ but thank you kelly for understanding lol i think this is the second time i was turned the wrong way by my office. lol grrr. why i love it here! always learn something new. :D

poet_kelly
on 6/18/12 9:32 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

I think I remember the other time. I don't remember what it was about but I think I remember you posting an apology after posting something that other people responded to saying what you'd been told by your surgeon was incorrect. Unless I have you mixed up with someone else, which is quite possible. I just didn't want you to feel bad or think anyone was upset with you for posting what you'd been told by your doctor.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

courtwillbehealthy
on 6/18/12 10:30 pm - burlington, VT

it was me it was because of the stupid cottage cheese thingy :P

anewbeginning2012
on 6/18/12 8:16 am - IN

RNY on 10/01/12

Court- I was told the same thing in a seminar I went too- that it is very rare now days. But the actual center I am going with- in there seminar they said it could go either way depending on your body and what the surgeon feels is best. I am good with either way, as long as they know what they are doing :)
Hope you are recooping good Court- how's your post op going?

courtwillbehealthy
on 6/18/12 9:31 am - burlington, VT

oh much much better!!! thank you!!!!! healings almost done. soon ill be done packing my evil wound XD and things are over all great. i keep doing naughty things i shouldnt like taking bites of stuff :P but its my own fault! XD learn getting my fluids and protein in. so im good to go. down 19 lbs as of today :D (since surgery)

PLEASE stop telling people that open surgery is only for rare, special cases!

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PLEASE stop telling people that open surgery is only for rare, special cases!