Question:
Ventilators? ICU?

How many of you have had Open RNY with no complications but have had a ventilator or ended up in ICU? Is that a standard practice? I've seen a few postings indicating they had a ventilator. I'd love some feedback on exactly what took place in the hosptial.    — Kay S. (posted on June 10, 2002)

June 10, 2002
I HAVING MY SURGERY ON 6-17 AND MY SURGEON TOLD ME AS A PRECAUTION YOU ARE IN ICU AND MAY HAVE VENTILATOR, I PRETTY SURE HE EXPLAINED THAT YOU NEED TO BE CLOSELY MONITORED THE FIRST 24 HRS AFTER SURGERY. IT'S FOR YOUR OWN WELL BEING. HOPE THAT HELPS JANICE
   — Janice C.

June 10, 2002
Kaiser So. San Francisco puts EVERYONE having WLS in the ICU after the recovery room. You're in there until the next day usually. The nurse anesthetist forewarned me that I may be on a ventilator after surgery, depending on how fast I can get back to breathing normally on my own. I did not need a ventilator. I think putting people in the ICU after the recovery room is a fairly common practice. Hugs, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 10, 2002
I was in the ICU for another surgery in 1993, but NEVER had to be in there with WLS. That sounds very strange to me. (Scratching my head on that one). WLS was very painful, in my opinion, but nothing like the surgery many years ago that caused me to be in ICU. I sure don't understand why anyone having WLS would need to be in ICU, unless there BMI is Dangerously high, or they had some comorbids that caused some concern. Hmmmm.
   — Danmark

June 11, 2002
My surgeon puts all his WLS patients in ICU for the first night. He says it's just a precaution and nothing to be alarmed about. He said it's more for the 1 on 1 nursing care and extra monitoring than anything.
   — Tanya B.

June 11, 2002
Hi, I am an ICU nurse. Your doctor probably wants you to be watched a little closer. Many obese people have difficulty expanding their lungs because of the weight. Taking this into account, the effects of the medication that can slow the breathing a little, and the fact that you just had MAJOR surgery, all are very good reasons to be extra careful. I had the surgery last year, I didnt have to be in ICU but I started at a little lower weight than many do, plus I didnt have any serious co-morbs. Also there are some drugs that stay in an obese persons system longer because the fat tries to store them. So as you can see, there are many possible reasons. Try not to let this bother you, Focus on getting better. Good luck and happy losing!!! P.S. Be sure to do the things that your nurse tells you to do...... ;) LOL
   — Cory F.

June 11, 2002
I was kept intubated for two days and I wasn't warned that it would happen. I'd like to tell you that it was peaches and cream, but frankly it wasn't. I was the worse experience of my operation. The first day it was ok, I barely remembered it. The second day, it was ok, except for when they made me cough. The last few hours were not too great. Not trying to scare you, but of course now that it is over, it was well worth it.
   — Lisa N M.

June 14, 2002
I spent 48 hours in SICU...and almost all of that time was spent on a ventilator as well. In my case, one of my co-morbids is asthma, so we knew I had breathing difficulties. When I was then transferred to a regular room on the surgical floor, a pulmonary specialist was part of my "team" during my entire eight day stay. I had Lap RNY. No regrets; one of the qualities that I most like about my surgeon is that he is conservative and careful.
   — CaseyinLA