Question:
I was diagnosed with a fatty liver on my gall bladder ultrasound

Would this make me a non canidate for a lap rny vs. an open rny? Also are there any increased surgical risk with a fatty liver?????    — Anne B. (posted on June 24, 2002)

June 24, 2002
I believe that that could help your case. I think (I'm not a doctor or nurse so-no flaming) that most Obese people have fatty livers. Mine was fatty too and I had surgery and am now fine. Good luck to you.
   — Cinna G.

June 24, 2002
I had a very large fatty liver as well, but I was still able to have lap rny. A lot of it depends on how experienced your surgeon is with doing the procedure. The fatty liver just makes it harder to move the scopes around it once they get inside. My surgeons office asked me to eat 80% protein a day pre-op to reduce the size of the liver a little, but it was still really big at the time of surgery and I had went through it with no complications.
   — Kelly M.

June 24, 2002
I, too , had a fatty liver before surgery. At about one year postop, I had to have an ultrasound for my gallbladder. The radiologist was very impressed with the improvement of my liver since losing weight. Basically, he said I have a "normal", non-fatty liver now. As another poster said, having a fatty liver can only help your cause of having surgery.
   — Susan S.

June 24, 2002
Most morbidly obese or super obese patients have a fatty liver, at least at some level. It will not determine whether you are a candidate or not - it would help, if anything. Unless you have other ailments or diseases to accompany the fatty liver (ie: if your an alcoholic or if you have Hepatitis) - I wouldn't be too concerned. Is it slightly elevated or extremely elevated? Did they tell you?
   — Lisa J.

June 24, 2002
I have cirrhosis from fatty liver which was discovered 2 yrs ago when I have my gall bladder removed. When it was dianoised, Liver Dr said to lose weight 'real slow'. So I was afraid he would be against WLS but he surprised me and gave his blessings. Surgery is Sept 25th.
   — Gail B.