Question:
I have just been told by a friend that works at a local hospital that 3 baratic

surgery patients has died from the surgery and a 4th one is nursing home bound. I would like to ask, How accurate is the 1% death rate? What is that percentage based on and who and when was it determined? Thanks for the information    — Judy W. (posted on March 28, 2002)

March 27, 2002
I found out that many times they attribute deaths to other causes. and not put the blame on the surgery; I will still have the surgery but you should hear both sides. write me for a link I thought was pro surgery and it wasn't.
   — meechi33823

March 27, 2002
Over what period of time? How many WLS patients have they had. If their rate of death is high there you may want to choose to have surgery elsewhere.
   — Candace F.

March 27, 2002
I hate to sound like a broken record, but statistics are meaningless. There is someone posting on the message board about a 654 who needs surgery and no one will operate, and this is why. If the doctor dares have compassion for these at risk patients, his statistics will be out of wack to the national average and he will lose possible new cases, and in some areas actually get investigated. Your probability of surviving WLS is only relevant to your situation and of course the skill and experience of your surgeon.
   — faybay

March 27, 2002
If that happened all at the same hosptial and the same doctor that would be a red flag for me. Those stats are enormous for one hospital. Or what is the time frame, is this over 10-20 years or what? Hospitals are different in what they can do and handle. There is one small town one where I live that was going to just let my uncle die, because they were only able to do a certain amount with what they had. We quickly transfered him to a large equipt hospital and they had him back up and running in 24 hours. Do your homework on the hosptial and doctor.
   — ZZ S.

March 27, 2002
My surgeon says a .4 percent death rate. Dont panic. Yes bad things can happen, But your risk itsnt necessarily someone elses. A 700 pound person whos been dibetic for 30 years and 60 years old isnt as low as a 300 lb 30 year old, Then too you MUST follow your surgeons orders to get up and walk etc! ALL of this makes for YOUR RISK FACTORS which are just for YOU!
   — bob-haller

March 27, 2002
When I interviewed my doctor he said he has lost 5 patience's since 2000 out of 200 (2.5%) and the overall group of surgeons had a less than 2% death rate. The reasons varied but the main causes were non-surgery related. I believe when you go over 400lbs you run a risk of walking around. I am schedule for surgery in 6 weeks and this was a huge concern of mine but it is a risk I am going to take. My grandfather always told me "If you were meant to be hung you won't be shot".
   — Damian M.

March 28, 2002
If this is a hospital you plan on having the surgery performed, I would ask some more questions. There could be 4 surgeons performing the surgery, and they each had a fatality. ANd, just like many people said, ask the weight of the people who went in, most likely they were above 400 pounds and had serious problems that could cause death for ANY surgery. If you're concerned, ask questions, the surgeons and hospitals will be honest. Goodluck!
   — Lezlie Y.