Question:
Can anyone help me with expectations with a staple line leak?

I am almost six months post-op open rny proximal and have lost 108 pounds so far. This week my surgeon sent me for an upper GI. My UGI in the hospital was fine and I had no leaks. Imagine my surprise when my Doc called me and told me that I have one now, according to him it is very small. My stomach is not transected and the leak is in my staple line. Of all of the DISGUSTING stuff I had to drink for the test, only 2 cc's leaked into the lower pouch. He said my small pouch still looked good and was just the right size. Has anyone else had this occur? I know this type of leak is not life-threatening, but it is really on my mind. I have been stuck at the same weight for almost two weeks now...coincedence or is it the leak? I just don't want to gain this weight back and I'm a little scared. I have cut my meals smaller, but with every bite of food I put into my mouth, I think "Is this the bite that's going to bust my staple line?" Has anyone had to have a repair for this or will it maybe close back up? Any info that anyone has on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Most of the info in the library is about leaks at the intestinal junction. Love to all and thanks...    — robin C. (posted on July 14, 2001)

July 14, 2001
Look under staple line disruptions vs leaks. Leaks occur fresh post-op, and SLD occur after the initial healing, usually. Unfortunately, way too many of us experience them. The fix is a new surgery, yes. You can start working on it now, or you can wait til you regain. I was lucky in that I got mine done when I had only regained 12#, so none of my comorbs had come back. YET. I think the only reasons that I didn't regain is my calculated post==op plan, all the protein supps I put down AND the fact that with my SLD came all that acid up from below & it made me too nauseated to get much food in. I just packing down the protein supps as fast as I could to prep me for revision and to form a barrier between my pouch and all that acid.
   — vitalady

July 14, 2001
Look under staple line disruptions vs leaks. Leaks occur fresh post-op, and SLD occur after the initial healing, usually. Unfortunately, way too many of us experience them. The fix is a new surgery, yes. You can start working on it now, or you can wait til you regain. I was lucky in that I got mine done when I had only regained 12#, so none of my comorbs had come back. YET. I think the only reasons that I didn't regain is my calculated post==op plan, all the protein supps I put down AND the fact that with my SLD came all that acid up from below & it made me too nauseated to get much food in. I just packing down the protein supps as fast as I could to prep me for revision and to form a barrier between my pouch and all that acid.
   — vitalady