Question:
How does the surgeon determine weather you are a better candidate for Lap Vs. Open?

How does the surgeon determine weather you are a better candidate for Lap Vs. Open? Is there some criteria that helps determine which is better for you? I know this is kind of a doctor question, but thought maybe some pre-ops or post-ops might have asked this question when interviewing their surgeon. Thanks!!    — Kelly K. Y. (posted on January 24, 2002)

January 23, 2002
In general, if you are very heavy (BMI over 60), most doctors prefer to do the open procedure on you, since they can really get in there and see what they're doing better. Make sense? Younger, slimmer patients are better candidates for lap.
   — Terissa R.

January 24, 2002
I know my situation doesn't happen often, but, my Surgeon told me he could do the procedure lap, until he was inside my abdomen and found my spleen too close to my stomach. So, he had to revert to open during surgery. I had an ultrasound done before surgery, but it was something that wasn't detected. I'm glad he didn't take any chances, but please realize that no matter what, open is always a possiblity, I know I hadn't prepared myself for that. Good luck!
   — Chloe S.

January 24, 2002
I was told that normally with a 'Virgin' belly, (no previous surgeries) and a patient weight below 350 would favor LAP. The lenght of the surgical instruments can be an issue if the patient abdomen is too thick. If the patient carries the majority of weight in the midsection, this can be a factor. All and all each individual is different and each surgeon is different. Mine did tell me that once he decides on a LAP only 2% of his cases did he have to revert to doing an OPEN instead for medical reasons that were not previously suspected.
   — Joelle B.

January 24, 2002
Kelly ... I agree with the other posters. In my case, my surgeon didn't do lap on anyone that weighed over 300 pounds, and I was 343 at the time. Honestly, the open wasn't all that bad -- in the 21 months since my surgery, the scar's faded right out ... and, being almost 45 years of age, my bare-midriff days went out with disco music, so who cares? Good luck, whichever route you go!
   — Cheryl Denomy

January 24, 2002
My surgeon physically examined me abdomen to see where most of my fat was located. He said if your body is relatively thin but you have a ball for a stomach, then it is harder to do a lap with the fat being in the way. Fortunately, I am fat all over and was no fatter in my stomach than I was in my legs or arms, or everything!
   — Goldilauxx B.