Question:
According to Dr. Broder he sees no problem with the procedure. Is it as safe as the

RNY and have there been any documented legitimate findings against this procedure?    — michelle E. (posted on August 21, 2003)

August 21, 2003
In my opinion I would not go with it. It is not even recommended by the ASBS. Why gamble with something that 99% of the surgeons won't do? Besides, good luck getting your insurance to pay for it.
   — zoedogcbr

August 21, 2003
I've heard of MANY people having bad complications after the MGB. Alot of people that get it done have to get a revision because of serious malabsortion problems. I would go with RNY...insurance will pay for it...MGB is 17,000 out of pocket no insurance company I know of will pay for it..good luck making your decision (sp?)<3
   — cinamoni

August 21, 2003
This is what Aetna has to say about the mini gastric bypass in their coverage policy bulletin (they do not cover it): <p> <b><i>The "mini gastric bypass" has recently been promoted as a new surgical treatment for morbid obesity. There is only one surgeon currently offering the procedure. It involves laparoscopic construction of a large and elongated gastric pouch and a loop gastric bypass with distal diversion (200 cm or up to half of the small bowel) to reduce food absorption. While the name implies "small" and "simple", the procedure is a major and life-threatening operation, and uses the loop gastric bypass, which has been universally condemned by bariatric surgeons for the last 20 years. Specifically, performing a loop, rather than a Roux-en-Y, anastomosis to the upper pouch of a gastric bypass will permit reflux of bile and digestive juice into the esophagus where it can cause reflux esophagitis, ulceration, and esophageal cancer over a period of years. The Roux-en-Y modification of the loop bypass was designed to divert the bile down-stream, several feet below the pouch and esophagus to minimize the risk of reflux. The trend towards use of Roux-en-Y and away from loop gastric bypass was based on sound surgical experience of multiple surgeons with large series of patients.</i></b>
   — John Rushton

August 23, 2003
Did you instead mean the mini-pouch (or maybe it's called micro-pouch)? Since you are in CA and the quack doing the mini bypass is in NC or SC, I think you simply misnamed it. The mini/micro pouch is not an evil surgery. LOL But I hope you will investigate the DS! There are several surgeons in CA doing it; however, Dr Nease in Garden Grove does not do a good job--very poor weight loss results. You are best off choosing a surgeon from the list at the DS site, http://duodenalswitch.com/Surgeons/surgeons.html#ms Chris, DS 6/02 Dr. K, 378-220, sz 6X-16/18
   — Chris T.