Question:
I'd like to know if I'm pretty accurate....

I've been deliberating back and forth, back and forth between the open RNY and the lap RNY. I was told the surgeon I'm going to be using does both, but has more experience in open-however he does very well at both surgeries. I have a 2-year-old son and a large part of my deciding to have the lap RNY has to do with him. I have heard I will have a shorter hospital stay, that I will have a quicker recovery time and so on. Is that accurate? Also, I would like to know how common it is for a Dr. to knick the bowels or spleen and also about how common it is for something else to go wrong that results in being opened. Are there any statistics out there that show this? Thank you all!    — jenn_jenn (posted on July 9, 2003)

July 9, 2003
Since your surgeon does both, why not ask him which is feels is the "safer" route for you to go. He's the expert and would know best for you as his patient. If you have had any other abdominal surgeries, lap may not be possible or there may be scar tissues that will make the lap procedure more difficult.
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 9, 2003
I had the same concerns and similar circumstances (a 23 month old daughter) when I had my surgery. My PCP recommended my surgeon, Dr. Grant at Duke, because he was able to do the surgery LAP. She advised me I would have a shorter hospitalization (surgery was Wed. a.m. and I was let out Sat. a.m.), smaller scars (6 small incisions), quicker recovery (I was able to care for my daughter on my own within 7 days of surgery), and less risk of a hernia. My surgeon had me sign a form stating that I would allow him to start out doing LAP RNY, but if he got in there and had some difficulties seeing and doing what he needed to do then he could do OPEN. Luckily, he had no problems and I had no complications. You will need to talk to your surgeon and research what is best for you, but from everything I have read, other patients I've talked to, and the recommendation of my PCP and surgeon the LAP is the best way to go if you can. Good luck with your decision.
   — K.D. P.

July 9, 2003
Here's another vote for the lap. I don't have any statistics for you, but I did have a lap gallbladder and I was back to work and doing things right away. They warned me it might have to be open in my case, but luckily it wasn't, because I was told there would be a good 6 weeks of recoup time.
   — bethybb

July 9, 2003
At the time of my surgery I had to small children, a 13 month and a 23 month old, not to mention a 7 year old and a 16 year old. I undersatand you wanting the Lap (that is what I had done). Just make sure that your doctor has done SEVERAL WLS lap, I did not want any one using me for "learning a new skill". If my doctor had not been comfortable doing it lap I would have done it open. He had been doing lap for over 2 years and WLS for the past 12 years, I would ask. Good luck!
   — Haziefrog