Question:
6 weeks postop, staple disruption, too early for revision?

I just found out my staple line is disrupted, and probably has been since week two. Is it too early for another surgery. Anyone had two surgeries this close together? There is a lot of questions in the library about revision but not a lot of answers. If you've had revision from VBG to RNY, please help! Thank you.    — KRISTI K. (posted on July 10, 2002)

July 10, 2002
On May 9 of this year I had a revision from an old VBG to RNY. My original surgery was in 1983. Apparently my surgeon found that the original surgeon had left the pouch much too large, which would explain such a minute amount of weight loss. Everything was still intact, unless he just didn't mention a staple line disruption to me. Seven weeks after my surgery I found out I have gallstones. I still don't know why he didn't test me for them from the get go - I had mentioned that I had attacks in the past - so now I'm facing surgery. He wasn't in town when this was discovered so one of his partners and I discussed the new surgery. I cannot have it lap so it means another very hard surgery for me. I told him I just didn't think I could take so much as a paper cut right now because the revision was extremely painful and the recovery very difficult. We decided that I'll try to lose at least 100 pounds before considering surgery again. If my poor gallbladder will just hold out a few more months to let me lose the last 60 pounds then everything will be fine. My suggestion to you is to talk it over with your surgeon. If you're young and in relatively good health another surgery would be possible. I've heard of several people who had numerous surgeries very close together. Good luck and I hope everything goes very well for you.
   — Vicki H.

July 11, 2002
I had open RNY on 4/5/02 and then had to have my gallbladder removed lap on 5/14/02. The second surgery was a piece of cake compared to the first. Good luck!
   — Christine L.

July 11, 2002
My staple line disrupted too at about 6 mos post op. I had the revision to transected rny at 9 mos post op after my first surgery. Make sure when you have the revision this time that you are transected. It is a permanent solution to disrupted staple lines! I had it and am so much happier than with just stapling. I feel confident that this is going to last now. My surgeon told me that if you had open rny, you must wait until your incision is fully healed inside and out to be reopened. I still lost wt even with the disruption although it was slow. You have been through a lot so give your body time to heal before having another surgery...just my humble opinion. Ask your surgeon to be sure. Good luck and God bless you. By the way, the repair to the staple line is a much easier surgery than the original rny. Still, it requires another major operation under general anesthesia.
   — Marilyn C.