Question:
If your stomach is transected with sutures can it grow back together???

2.5 yr RNY Post-Op. My doc stated when I have my revision done, due to staple line rupture, he will transect my stomach with staples only, he stated if he uses sutures there may be a chance of the stomach growing back together. Has anyone ever heard of this??? If this is true, couldn't this also happen with staples??? I don't understand the difference here.    — Barbara M. (posted on November 19, 2003)

November 19, 2003
There is a one in a kabillion chance of that happening. Being transected, there is a much less chance of you being able to accidently 'use' your entire stomach. When you just have the staples, there is always a chance that they could come apart. Your stomach does not grow together where the staples are holding it. That is all they do, hold your stomach together to form the pouch. Transecting, means they cut it into two seperate sections so that there is the ability for it to grow back together as two seperate pieces. In super rare instances, the two pieces will find their way back to each other and grow back as one. I do not see how the difference between sutures and staples would increase or decrease this from happening.
   — RebeccaP

November 19, 2003
Barbara, I haven't heard of this - but maybe some of the folks over on the Revision list would have. They're full of so much real life experience - and are so willing to help people out. Here's a link to their Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DS_Revision/ I was reading your profile - girlfriend! You've been through SO much. I'm so sorry it's been trial after trial. Please keep us updated on how things work out. If I can help in any way, just ask, okay? Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

November 19, 2003
There is a very small chance of the two stomachs having a "love affair" and finding their way back to each other again. How romantic...lol. I believe it has to do with magnetic force so I don't see how staples or sutures would make a difference. My doctor actually places a part of your jejunum inbetween the two stomachs to prevent this from occuring; although, it is soooo rare that I don't think I would worry about it too much. I'd express your concerns with your surgeon if it's too bothersome. Good luck. Denise/Open RNY 3/20/03 -127lbs
   — denisel

November 19, 2003
I agree with the others, I don't know if staples or sutures make a difference if the 2 stomachs want rejoin. BTW, that is called a "fistula," and it's the body's way of trying to normalize itself. As one of the other posters said, my doctor also kind of folds the 2 stomachs away from each other to try to prevent this from happening. It is rare, but it can happen.
   — Leslie F.

November 19, 2003
Hmm. INteresting concept. OK, bits 'n pieces here. Something we noticed is that the more foreign matter there is, the harder the body works to normalize. Please note this is not Hard Fact, only our observation. There is a substance called seam guard or something like close that forms a "binding" on the edges. Oddly, there are MORE fistulas (think: tiny bridge between the 2 stomachs)than those without. I know of docs who actually "make" a lil binding out of a hunk of tissue to prevent this. Since the device that cuts also staples, the staples are not exactly optional. But the sutures would be. It would follow our observations that the extra foreign body might stimulate the body (that has already succeeded once) into "nomalizing" again. Again, not hard fact, only our observation.
   — vitalady