Question:
what protocol/procedure does dr use to check for leaks

my dr said that the day after surgery he will do a procedure to check for leaks, does anyone know what this is......and what all it entails    — patricia H. (posted on April 27, 2002)

April 27, 2002
I believe it will be through a swallow test - for some this isn't as bad as it seem to be for me. The tech. gave me a drink that he called "soapy water" and that's exactly what it taste like - a big swig of "Joy". It was nasty but went rather quickly - after I drank it, they watched my inside from this little television thing to make sure it was all going down correctly. I've heard some people having to do this test twice but I only had to do it once. They also kept an eye out for leaks by my drain tubes - I had to dye my water & drinks 3 times a day to test for water - that was about 12 oz. of blue water. It was interesting on my teeth but toothpaste got it off rather quickly - at least from my teeth. My tongue was blue for days after finishing. The drains stayed in for 9 days after surgery and each day we went through the dye routine. Not sure if either of these are what your doctor is talking about but that's what it was for my lap RNY done 3 weeks ago.
   — Lisa J.

April 27, 2002
My doctor does the original test in the operating room before he closes you. He puts water in their and imerses your new guts to see if they bubble. I then had the swig of orange flavored Joy and it was gross. I also had to drink Barium right after the Joy. Thank God there was not a leak. However, I did not mind the test just to be on the safe side.
   — terrifogle40

April 27, 2002
My doctor first check for leaks by injecting dye into the NG tube while you are still open (obviously open RNY). Then the day after surgery they did an upper GI where I drank this gritty liquid to see if it went down ok through an xray machine. No leaks and that was that. I have read that there is a less chance of leaks with oper RNY vs lap, because they can actually get in there and suture everything up verses having to do it through a scope with remote instruments. Upper GI test wasn't that bad, & I still don't remember much about it other than vaguely or the first 2 days. I am very sensitive to narcotics and was very out of it on the morphine. Never really experienced that much pain either.
   — Dell H.

April 27, 2002
My Doctor sent me to X-Ray for a swallow of dye I did have a leak and had to return to surgery at once. After that I developed an infection and remained in the hospital a total of 9 days. Its been very slow trying to return back to somewhat normal.
   — kathy R.