Question:
How much experience should a surgeon have in gastric by pass procedures?
— lisa H. (posted on May 4, 2003)
May 4, 2003
I had my surgery at a military hospital, and I was number 51 for my
surgeon. He performed OTHER surgeries, but not that many gastric bypass
surgeries. He also had some problems with one, that he was totally up front
about. I still trusted him completely. He is an AWESOME surgeon, and I had
a GREAT experience with him. I haven't had any complications, and
everything is exactly like it should be. So... in answer to your question,
I didn't have a problem with a relatively "new" bariatric
surgeon. It all depends on if you trust him/her, and if they are an
excellent surgeon in general. I hope that helped a little!!
— Diana L.
May 4, 2003
The learning curve on any major surgery is supposedly 50 operations. I
wouldn't object to using a surgeon with a low number IF he/she were being
assisted by a surgeon skilled in the surgery I were having done. Mine had
performed over 500 RNY's.
— [Deactivated Member]
May 4, 2003
I think I am technically #15 for my surgeon, but he is an experienced
trauma gut surgeon and trained with the best for the RNY. He had done the
procedure before on cancer patients. He started doing this procedure
because he had seen so many complications from other surgeon's work that he
wanted to make a difference. Just research the surgeon's history
(lawsuits, death rate, etc) carefully, and go with your instincts.
— [Deactivated Member]
May 4, 2003
Hi Lisa, well I was number 2 for my surgeon. The hospital that I had mine
done was just opening up a Bariatric Wing and this Dr was working with
them. He was training at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego for eight months
before my operation. He was also assisted by a Dr from that hospital when
mine was done and as I know still is. Everything went great the hospital
stay was fine and his office staff was right on the ball as for after care.
I had no problem being number #2 and sometimes wish I was #1 so I could
have a title (lol) anyway like the other poster says if you feel
comfortable with your surgeon and have checked him out "GO FOR
IT" you will be glad you did. Mine was on 02/19/2003 down 50+
— tonyskid
May 4, 2003
My Dr. has performed/assisted in 15 sugerys BUT he did surgery on me before
and he did a fantastic job and he is now specializing in Lap-RNY. I think
there are good points in being a first patient in that as with anything
else, you are so careful when you first start doing something new and later
as you become comfortable with it that fear of what can go wrong lessens.
JMHO
— kjonhjk
May 4, 2003
Hi Lisa... I was number 10 for my wonderful doc! He did have tons of lap
experience in other surgeries. I had gone to a surgeon who had performed
100's and I was not satisfied at all with his program. In fact, he was so
unconcerned that I feared for my safety if he had done the surgery. My
experience told me that the surgeon with tons of experience was actually
WORSE then the surgeon with less. So, my opinion is not to be afraid of
the doc with few suregries under his belt - GO FOR IT. But just check his
training closely! Good luck and best,
— Louise C.
May 5, 2003
I was more concerned about having a skilled surgeon that was a lap expert
(since I knew I wanted lap), and that the surgeon had impecable
credentials. I was # 20 something for my surgeon, who had been performing
lap surgeries for 4 years and had graduated one of the best medical schools
in the country. He also impressed me with his knowledge during the
consultation, and even more so with his post-op care. I would definitely
check out any surgeon you choose with the AMA-is he/she board certified?
Also, if there are other patients that they have performed the gastric
bypass on, can you talk to them. I had free access to the ones that came
before me, and their pleasure with the surgeon's skills and care convinced
me.
— Cindy R.
May 5, 2003
I changed surgeons from a group that had done Gastric Bypass for years to a
doc who has only been in the bypass business for 2 years. Why? The first
group had lost its abilty to CARE. We were herded through like cattle. No
pun. The office staff was rude and I felt strongly that the surgerons had
heard it all before so now they did not LISTEN. Example: I told him I was
not married and had no childern. He just sat there shaking his head yes,
going on and on about how afterwards I was going to be able to play with my
kids. Geez. When I got my consult with the new surgeon, I asked tons of
questions and felt very at ease with him. I thank the Lord above everyday
that I switched. Talk to your surgeon, ask questions. If it doesnt
"feel" right it most likely isnt. Good luck to you. Sidney Open
RNY 10-23-02 down 90+
— Siddy I.
May 5, 2003
This really all depends on you and what you feel comfortable with. Ask your
surgeon questions- I did and he was honest. When I first met with him, he
had done maybe 200 surgeries, and he honestly told me he was over the
learning curve of Lap RNY. I trusted him and felt comfortable. By the time
I had my surgery, he'd done over 300 and was even more experienced. Now-
he's probably hit the 1,000 mark. All surgeons have to start somewhere
right? It's just whether you choose to be near that starting point!
Goodluck to you!
— Lezlie Y.
May 6, 2003
My answer would be that it depends. As someone else pointed out, all
doctors have to start somewhere. I also think it depends on your surgeon's
other credentials. For instance, my surgeon has been doing gastric bypass
surgery for less than a year. However, he has been performing stomach and
intestinal surgeries for over twenty years. My mother had two surgeries to
have intestinal blockages removed, so I know how detailed and delicate
those surgeries are, which was more than enough to convince me that if my
surgeon could perform that type of surgery, he will most likely be more
than competent in performing gastric bypass. Basically, the way I see it,
for him, gastric bypass is probably not much different than what he has
been doing for years. It's basically just like adding another procedure to
his bag of tricks. The fact that the gastric bypass surgeries he has
performed so far have been successes seems to be a testament to that. One
other positive trade off to choosing a surgeon who is relatively new to
weight loss surgery, they usually haven't built up the waiting list that
some of the more established surgeons have. In a span of two months, I
will have had two surgical consults, a psych consult, a dietary consult,
and surgery. Before finding my surgeon, I had gone through the
requirements for scheduling a consult with one of the more established
weight loss surgeons in town, and my first consult with that surgeon wasn't
scheduled until July 10th! By then, I will be almost two months out of
surgery and, if all goes well, well into my losing journey.
— Amanda S.
May 10, 2003
IMHO, one helluvalot of experience in doing WLS. Trust me, don't go with a
newbie on this!!
Diane N RN
— DianeN
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