Question:
I just looked into the Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery, it is done with Larascopy

The information I read said that this type of surgery takes less time to perform and also less hospitalization time, what do you think of this surgery? How long as it been around? Do you know of any doctors in the Orlando, FL area that perform this procedure?    — Wanda M. (posted on January 30, 2000)

January 30, 2000
Dr. Robert Rutledge has been doing mini-gastric-bypass lap for 3.5 years. Over 350 surgeries. His website is www.clos.net. I am six weeks post-op; BP down 30+ points, 39 pounds gone. Surgery takes roughly 40 minutes, 2 nights in hospital. No other doc does THIS surgery but Dr. R.
   — Dee R.

January 30, 2000
Hi! My name is Michelle Campbell, and I had the procedure you are reffering to! I think this is the safest WLS out there and I would be more than happy to answer any questions you have. I had my surgery on 12/2...was 261 now 220...41 lbs gone FOREVER! Michelle C
   — michelle C.

January 30, 2000
Wanda, The MGB is my choice for surgery and no one other than Dr Rutledge performs it.I have been waiting for almost a year for my insurance and hopefully will have it later this year. I am travelling from ND to have it and trust DR R implicitly. I believe he is going on 3 yrs of doing this procedure, if you would like more info you can visit the web site at www.clos.net Paige
   — Paige W.

March 9, 2001
I have seen several people say that Dr. Rutledge is the only surgeon performing the MGB. I know for sure that there is another doctor in Savannah, GA who learned from Dr. Rutledge and who also now does the MGB. His name is Julian Quattlebaum, Jr. I have my own reservations about this type of surgery because of all the negative things I have read referring to the bile/reflux problems. However, I know how "disgruntled" people can make good things sometimes seem like horrible things. If anyone has any helpful words for me, please feel free to contact me. I really want to have this surgery, and I need the least invasive with the least amount of time off work possible...
   — Julie I.

March 10, 2001
I understand the allure of a shorter operative time and a shorter hospital stay, but when we're talking about the scope of your LIFE, it seems very short-sighted to make the decision based primarily on that factor. A year from now, will it really matter if your O.R. time was 1 hour or 3 hours? Or if you were in the hospital for 2 days or 4 days? The MGB is the only WLS currently being performed that is being publicly denounced by at least a dozen or more world-renowned baratric surgeons. The medical field is notorious for protecting their own, so the fact that this is happening should speak volumes. And the idea that these docs are somehow jealous of Rutledge's cash cow just doesn't wash. If the surgery is so safe and effective, why isn't it being embraced all over the place? Seems to me that where there's smoke there's fire, and there's a heckuva lot of smoke around this procedure.
   — [Anonymous]

March 16, 2001
A news release from BCBS of NC concerning the Mini Gastric Bypass.<br> <br> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br> <br> For immediate release March 15th, 2001<br> <br> Contact: <br> Michelle Vanstory (BCBSNC), (919) 765-2825 <br> Mark Stinneford (BCBSNC), (919) 765-4933<br> <br> Safety Concerns Prompt Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina To Clarify Policy on Mini-Gastric Bypass Surgery<br> <br> Chapel Hill, N.C. - To protect patient safety, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) has taken the recommendation of independent physicians to classify as investigational a treatment of morbid obesity called mini-gastric bypass surgery.<br> <br> The two separate reviews by independent physicians consulted by BCBSNC have concluded that there is not adequate peer-reviewed documentation of the safety and efficacy of the procedure, and that it should be classified as investigational. Based on those safety concerns, BCBSNC decided on March 8 to explicitly exclude coverage of the procedure in its medical policy. Previously, BCBSNC's policy did not specifically address the procedure.<br> <br> "Patient safety is the issue," said Dr. Robert Harris, senior vice president and chief medical officer of BCBSNC. "We owe it to our customers to make sure that the procedures we cover have a track record of safety and effectiveness. We reevaluated our policy on this procedure. On the advice of independent physicians who questioned the procedure's efficacy and safety, we decided it was in our members' best interest not to cover this procedure."<br> <br> BCBSNC continues to provide coverage for other surgical procedures for morbid obesity for customers who have benefits for such services and who meet the medical criteria for the surgery. BCBSNC will assist customers in finding BCBSNC-credentialed doctors who perform covered procedures. The company has contacted physicians and hospitals regarding the change, and is in the process of contacting customers who may be affected.<br> <br> "We continue to cover procedures that have a documented track record of safety and effectiveness," Dr. Harris said.<br> <br> Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is a leader in delivering innovative health care products, services and information to nearly 2 million members throughout North Carolina.<br> <br> BCBSNC has earned Commendable Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to measuring the quality of America's health care.<br>
   — [Anonymous]