Question:
Why do these people die from this surgery? How come there is blood clots and other

problems?    — [Anonymous] (posted on November 19, 2000)

November 19, 2000
Not everyone dies with blood clots. I had a very successful surgery (RNY Open) was home from the hospital, and after six days I had to be readmitted to the hospital with multiple blood clots in my lungs. I am fine now, taking blood thinner for six months. There is risk for blood clots with any surgery. The best thing you can do is walk, walk, walk as soon after surgery as you can to prevent them.
   — Joy Z.

November 19, 2000
The percentage of people dying from this surgery is very, very low. When i read the packet the surgeon gave me i was very relieved to see the statistics. The nurse will start giving you blood thinner before you have surgery and threw out your stay at the hospital. Also you have these support hose to wear that is supposed to help also. And i know it is important to walk walk walk ...but to be honest with you , I had my surgery on a friday and the nurses didn't get me up and walking till sunday. I dont know why i wasnt walking before then, but i was just fine no matter. Hope this helps .... Good luck to you :)
   — Michelle S.

November 19, 2000
To me, it is remarkable that MORE people don't die from this surgery. If you watch a video of the surgery, you see that they knock you unconscious, cut you wide open, handle your organs and innards, cut and re-arrange things and sew things back together. None of this is "natural" to your body, but somehow your body handles it anyway. I think the extremely low death rate we see with WLS is a testament to the skill of our surgeons, the modern technology of medicine, and the resilience of our bodies. Deaths do happen, but they are pretty rare.
   — Lynn K.