Question:
I have read that the long term studies of effects of this surgery are not available
but I have read that the RNY has been performed for the past 20 years. Why is that? I have also heard that the lifespan of people having this surgery is 15 to 20 years. Are there any studies to prove this to be false? — Judy W. (posted on December 5, 2001)
December 5, 2001
I'm afraid I can't answer why there are no long term studies available, but
maybe because in the scientific world 20 years isn't really "long
term". I too have read life span of 15-20 years, but that is with the
older gastroplasty that was done. I think the liver really took a beating
with that operation. No one can point to a reason why the RNY would have a
different life span. As long as your vitamin levels are monitored, why
would it be different? I mean, if the RNY has only been done for the last
20 years, how could anyone possibly have accurate statistical data showing
a life span of nearly that same amount of years?
— Tracy L.
December 5, 2001
I will ask about long term study info tonight at the support group meeting.
I was told before it was good but will research futher. But the bigger
question is how long would surgery patients have lived WITHOUT surgery?
That is a imprtant question, many of us would of died sooner.
— bob-haller
December 5, 2001
I also don't have an answer, but the long-term effects of this surgery
concern me. I realize that advancements in medicine have changed the post
op results for many in recent years. But what about long-term? I haven't
heard very good things from people who had the procedure 10-15 years ago,
but keep thinking that things had to have gotten better. I don't want to
think this surgery helps immediately, and not long term. Anyone who can
shed light on this, I too would appreciate it.
— Straley S.
December 5, 2001
You may wish to research long-term effects of the surgery at the website of
the American Association of Bariatric Surgeons (http://www.asbs.org/). Most
long-term studies involve patients for a period of 15-20 or more years, so
if there are studies out there, the studies should be fairly recent,
involving patients from the past 20 years (if the RNY has only been
performed for the past 20 years). I did notice on the ASBS website a
reference to a study of patients at 15 years post-op. I didn't see any
reference to a lifespan of 15-20 years for RNY patients, and this is the
first I've heard about dying after 15-20 years. I'd be interested in
knowing why RNY patients would die 15-20 years after having the surgery.
— [Anonymous]
December 5, 2001
Like has already been pointed out . . .how long would we live with sleep
apnea, diabetes, backpain etc without the operation and what would be the
quality of that life. Not only that, but the RNY done now and the one done
15 years ago is not the same. I agree with other poster who pointed out
that we still must watch our choices and keep our vitamins up.
— Dawn Y.
December 5, 2001
I would like to see the study that says this is TRUE. The current form of
the RNY has not been around for 15 - 20 years, so how could there be a
study stating that this is the lifespan?
— mom2jtx3
December 5, 2001
My surgeon mentioned that the Mayo Clinic had research going back over 25
years and the most common long term side effect was ulcers. I haven't
researched it myself, but perhaps the clinic's website would help? Just a
thought!
— Deborah W.
December 5, 2001
I am by no means an expert of any kind of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome,
however I have an aunt with this disease. In the mid 1970's she had her
entire stomach removed and a small pouch created for a stomach out of a
piece of her small intestine due to her syndrome. She is now in her 70's
and although thin, which she was before, she seems to still be relatively
healthy. I know she takes Tums as a calcuim supplement, but haven't
questioned her beyond that. I have personally seen how a person with
drastic gastrointestinal surgery, though not RNY as such, can lead a fairly
normal and healthy life for years. Some may say I am comparing apples to
oranges, however, while WLS and her surgery are 2 entirely different
surgeries, I can see a correlation. And as a previous poster said...where
will we be without this kind of intervention in 15 years anyway.......It
just all has to be put in perspective. I wish you the best in finding
peace with the decision you make!
— VintageChick
December 5, 2001
When you read this study, do you remember what the 15-20 year post-op
patients died from? Did they wither up and blow away or what?
— [Anonymous]
December 5, 2001
Yesterday I was speaking with an "old" friend about wanting to
have this surgery done. She pulled out a picture and asked me did I know
the person in the picture. I didn't or so I thought. To my shock, it was
her 25 years ago the week before her surgery weighing 325lbs. Today she
weighs 158lbs and has for the last 24 years. I was floored but convinced.
She carries that picture and only shares it with those who are depressed
about their weight, and encourages them to take the next step.
— Gloria B.
December 5, 2001
I think most deaths after 15-20 yrs after RNY is not associated with RNY
itself. Most of us have had co-morbs for MANY years before getting this
surgery and long term side effects from years with heart problems,
diabetes, etc would lead to problems down the road I would assume. I met a
woman who had RNY 20 yrs ago. She was one of the first and she is happy and
healthy. Plus you need to take into account the avg rny patient is usually
around 35-50. So you add 15-20 yrs on to that and death could be from many
things due to AGING. Not RNY iteself.
— [Anonymous]
December 5, 2001
RNY......? WHICH form? There was teh JIB, so not really RNY, and the
Scopinaro, and, and, and. There is a lady here with me now who is a 1983
RNY, extremely proximal. She regained the wt due to her surgery and bad
post-op plan, but she is fine. She is now freshly post-op from a more
distal procedure. Some of the early JIB had trouble with liver problems,
and some RNY will, too, unless they take steps. We KNOW so much more than
they did 20 years ago, or 6 years ago or 1 year ago! There are so many
ways to circumvent the problems of the past today. The problem being that
when someone says there are no long term studies, well, there ARE, but on
which specific procedure, following which specific post-op plan.
— vitalady
December 5, 2001
I asked this at tonghts support group meeting. I was told what we already
discussed here. People live longer post op than those who dont have
surgery. But theres no way to really compare things because we have all
lived with co morbidities our entire life. So theres no control group for
comparison purposes. Everyones dies someday, Now I want to live healthy.
They said that early deaths arent from the surgery but other health
problems.
— bob-haller
December 7, 2001
You can read about this study here:
<p>
http://www.upmc.edu/NewsBureau/medsurg1/schauer_annals_study.htm
<p>
MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY FOR MORBID OBESITY HAS FAVORABLE OUTCOMES,
ACCORDING TO UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH STUDY
<p>
Patients Had Fewer Complications and More Rapid Recovery
<p>
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 16, 2000---Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery
is a safe and effective procedure for achieving significant weight loss in
morbidly obese people, with a low rate of complications, a short hospital
stay and rapid recovery, according to a study in the October issue of the
Annals of Surgery.
<p>
The study, by Philip Schauer, M.D., assistant professor of surgery at the
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, co-director of the Mark
Ravitch/Leon C. Hirsch Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery at UPMC Health
System in Pittsburgh and director of bariatric surgery, evaluated the
short-term outcomes of the procedure in 275 patients with a follow-up of
one to 31 months.
— [Anonymous]
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