Question:
has any one who has a bmi of over 50 had a lap rny??

my neice wants to have a lap rny but they told her her bmi is too high ...71... any one ou there with a higer than 50 bmi had it done lap????    — alexjakemom (posted on March 18, 2003)

March 18, 2003
My BMI at the time of surgery 2 months ago was 81. My surgeon was very confident that I'd be able to have Lap RNY even though my BMI was so high and even considering previous abdominal surgeries. Sure enough, my surgery was done LAP and there were no problems. I think your neice will get different answers from different surgeons, depending on his/her surgical skills and according to the hospital's instruments they have to work with. Good luck!
   — thumpiez

March 18, 2003
I had Lap RNY with a BMI of 56. My surgeon is very skilled in the lap procedure and with the ones with the higher BMI's just means he has to take a little longer then the typical 1 1/2 hour procedure. He took about an extra 30 min. with me.
   — Jenny B.

March 18, 2003
My daughter's BMI was 70 and she had a completely successful and uneventful lap RNY with an operating time of 1 hour. More obese patients require longer laparascopic instruments which some surgeons do not have, or hospitals will not purchase. Experience and expertise on the part of the surgeon is the critical factor in this situation. Best wishes!
   — Diana T.

March 18, 2003
Mine was lap - BMI = 64. No problems. All depends on the skill and experience of the surgeon.
   — jen41766

March 18, 2003
I have a BMI of 53 and my doctor told me he doesn't do any over BMI of 50? I am gonna try and loose some before my date so maybe I will be able to. Also he told me it takes him almost 3 hours to do a lap? and only 1 for open? he is a specialist, with his main study in lap surgery for 10+ years, and bairiatric surgery for almost 15? I here of people with higher BMI's all the time getting lap procedure done... it makes me wonder IF my Dr. is so qualified, why not over BMI of 50? I mean not too many patient qualifiying for this surgery are between 40-49 anyways? or more than half are over 50!! ~good luck!
   — heather S.

March 18, 2003
Some docs dont have the extra long LAP tools. They are VERY expensive. My wifes bmi was over 60 and her table time was 1.5 hours. You may have to shop around for a surgeon.
   — bob-haller

March 18, 2003
I am pre-op with a BMI of 55.4 and my surgeon is planning lap.
   — Debbie B.

March 19, 2003
My BMI was 71 when I had my Lap RNY on 2/21/03. My surgery took about 3 hours and I had no complications at all. I was able to get out of bed the same day. My surgeon is very experienced and told me from the beginning that my sugery would be done lap. As others have indicated, the experience of the surgeon, and his/her access to the longer tools, is key. Best of luck to your niece.
   — Tonya B.