Question:
lap versus open and blockage

To those of you who had a blockage, did you have lap surgery or open?    — geneswife (posted on March 22, 2006)

March 21, 2006
You need to be much more clearer. What kind of blockage?? Where is it at?? I have had a few of them, but u need to answer my questions before I can you
   — Steve Cohen

March 22, 2006
LAP or OPEN is only a matter of access, and doesnt change the actual surgery. a small pewrcent of both can get adhesions which cause blockages from any belly surgery. this all from my surgeon dr philip schauer the new president of the ASBS. The major difference between the 2 is hernias. Because the stomach wall is cut for OPEN surgery about 1/3 get incisional hernias. LAP the rate is near zero.
   — bob-haller

March 22, 2006
I was talking about bowel obstructions. Are they caused by adhesions? My husband had one caused by his bowel being caught in the stitches of his surgery.(hiatal hernia surgery) I just thought maybe it was easier to catch something in the stapling than open surgery. Thank you for your replies.
   — geneswife

March 22, 2006
I had a bowel obstruction at 19 months post-op from an Open RNY. The bowel obstruction was done as an open procedure, a flap of scar tissue had wrapped itself around my small bowel, strangling it. It was very far down, right next to my appendix so she did not feel it was directly related to the RNY. It makes more sense to me that it was scar tissue from my tubal ligation. I think each one is unique and can happen whether you have had a lap or open procedure. See my profile for why I had to have an Open RNY. I wish you and your husband all the best. Blessings!
   — ALF

March 23, 2006
Hi, The info you are looking for has not been completely compiled. So First - Blockages or the need for dialation. This can occure for many reasons. One of them being from the formation of scar tissue. This tissue scarring has nothing to do with lap or open.. the scarring is on the intestine. Second -- There are many reason to NOT do the lap procedure. Your surgeon needs to explain the risk to you. There are many more cases where complications after surgery have occured that are directly related to the fact that the surgeon is basicly working with limited site. A leak undetected, a twist not seen, a misfiring of the stapler, and many others, all missed more often because the surgeon can not see as much using lap equipment. Many Many people have had the lap and have had no complications at all. You have to keep reaching for yourself and do what is best for you. Recovery time is not so bad either way..... I had open surgery but my scar is only 3 inces long and it was the only cut on the out side of me. Keep searching. God Bless and Good Luck
   — dchildress