Question:
WHATS A LEAK?

AFTER READING TONIGHTS MESSAGES,I HAVE 2 QUESTIONS TO ASK.WHATS A LEAK? AND DOES ANYONE WANT TO BE MY ANGLE?    — Lee D. (posted on July 1, 2001)

July 2, 2001
Hi, a leak happens when the intestine is attached to the new pouch (such as in the RNY) and isn't sutured 100% correctly and the juices from the intestines leak into the abdominal cavity. This is very serious and can cause peritonitis, which is very dangerous and can be deadly. I know because it happened to me 5 weeks ago after my RNY! Thank goodness I am here to talk about it, the doctor had to do emergency surgery after I insisted that something was terribly wrong and my fever spiked 105 36 hours after the RNY. They did a barium swallow test to see if there was a leak and it came out negative! The doctor did the right thing by opening me up anyway and sure enough I had a leak and peritonitis.They had to remove a portion of my intestine and re-attach the rest to my pouch again. I hope that answers your question...Vicki
   — Vicki K.