Question:
I SAW LAST NIGHT ON DATELINE THAT 1 OUT OF EVERY 200 PEOPLE DIE FROM THIS SURGERY DUE

I SAW LAST NIGHT ON DATELINE THAT 1 OUT OF 200 PEOPLE DIE FROM THIS SURGERY DUE TO COMPLICATIONS. WHAT TYPE OF COMPLICATIONS HAPPEN FOR SOMEONE TO DIE? CAN ANYONE TELL ME THERE COMPLICATIONS AND HOW OFTEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT CAN HAPPEN?    — DBXX (posted on November 23, 2002)

November 23, 2002
Remember that these are "across-the-board" statistics which included mortality rates reported by surgeons with a wide range of experience....some are fairly new and inexperienced surgeons altogether....some are general surgeons who have "jumped on the WLS bandwagon" without extensive training in bariatrics....some simply have lesser skill levels than others. My surgeon is one of the pioneers in the field and has performed over 1400 WLS with only two mortalities which were unrelated to the surgery itself. Those statistics certainly defy the 1 out of 200 figures :-) It is important to do all the research that you can and try fo find a surgeon with experience in the field of bariatric surgery. Be your own best advocate and a pro-active consumer.....this is your life and your future health...don't settle for less than the best available to you. Best wishes!
   — Diana T.

November 23, 2002
This is not a one answer question. Sometimes it depends on your co-morbs. From my own research the deaths that I read about are from embolisms, blod clots and ARDS. Sometimes if your bmi is very high that is also a risk factor. Be sure to read everything you can and the read the memorial page on this site in some instances the family listed what happened to their love one.
   — davesband1

November 23, 2002
1 in 200 is just the figure Al's surgeron used. Mine said 1 in 500 and I have heard some say 1 in 1000. No matter who is right, there is still a risk with this and all other Surgery.
   — Sharon H.

November 23, 2002
I almost died. Was in a coma. It was because of a wrong choice of surgeon. Check out my profile and hit on my link to my website if you are not faint of heart, you'll see what my Lap Bypass surgery looked like after my original surgeon went in.
   — Karla K.

November 23, 2002
I was more than willing to take that 1 in 200 chance to improve my life permanently for the better. At 5'4" and 427 pounds, the odds were a lot greater than 1 in 200 that I was going to die prematurely from one co-morbidity or another...JR (open RNY 07/17 -114 pounds)
   — John Rushton

November 24, 2002
According to my surgeon your risk depends upon your co-morbidities, BMI, etc. In people with BMI 50 or under without major problems like congestive heart failure or such the risk is 1 in 1000 according to the literature that my surgeon gave me. Those were darned good odds for me! Even at 1 in 500, it would still have been better than what my odds would have been without the surgery 10 years down the road.
   — lezawomack