Question:
how long does the RNY surgery itself actually take

   — stephanie E. (posted on September 28, 1999)

September 28, 1999
I think that I have heard that it takes about 2- 2 1/2 hours.
   — Heather A.

September 28, 1999
Mine clocked in at just under an hour for open RNY. This was with no complications or unusual circumstances.
   — Teri L.

September 28, 1999
It is SO different for each of us. Laps take a bit longer, generally. I was open, about 2 hrs. Of the many I've waited for, 2 were closer to an hour, one was over 4 hours (other things found), but the vast majority were right about 2 hrs.
   — vitalady

September 29, 1999
It takes me 2 1/2 to 3 hours. I do the gold standard complete operation however. I divide the stomach completely, oversow the edges, then bring up a long loop of small intestine and attach it to the upper stomach pouch. Other surgeons may not actually divide the stomach, just staple accross it. This will save time at the expense of some patients developing staple line breakdown.
   — Bruce B.

September 29, 1999
Mine took from 12:20 p.m. until 4:00. My sister had hers in St. Louis, and hers took 3 hours. It's a pretty long procedure but well worth every minute! Good luck.
   — Lori D.

October 2, 1999
It's not how long the operation takes, it is how carefully it is done. It also takes me 3 hours to do the operation, but I have had no leaks and I oversew all the staple lines
   — Joseph V.