Question:
Does anyone have any numbers about the risks of revision?

The only information I have gotten is that it is way more dangerous. This isn't precise enough for me. If a first time surgery patient has less than 1% risk of fatal complications, what is the percentage of risk for someone revising a VBG to an RNY? If you have any info. on this, please help! I appreciate any contribution made. Thanks so much!    — Michele :. (posted on March 9, 2001)

March 9, 2001
Michelle, that's one I hadn't heard. Most revisions I know are from RNY to DS, and they're almost always at LESS risk, generally because their weight is lower then before their RNY, making the overall surgical risks less. Now VBG may be less invasive than the bypass procedures, and take less time which is the only reason I can think of that it carries less risk. If your weight has gone up the risk would be greater, but not as a result of the revision per se. I don't know a single revisionist who hasn't had adhesions to deal with, which make the surgery a little longer and increase risk slightly. But, overall, if you're in better health now than you were before your initial operation, you should be at no greater risk.
   — Duffy H.

April 10, 2002
I previously had a gastro-plasty or stomach staple. I had it in approx 1987. I recently had an rny and my surgery was longer and the doctor said more complicated due to previous surgery. Since it was longer there was more blood loss than normal.I did have a longer stay in the hospital and I was pretty weak for about 2 1/2 wks. Other than that I haven't experienced any more complications than other patients that have had rny.
   — DYAN G.