Question:
Is it true the death rate is 1:200? 5% Die ???
We just watched the segment on MSNBC and it was mentioned that the death rate is 5%. This scared my husband to the poing he does not want me to do the procedure anymore (RNY). I am very upset since I have my heart set on doing it... Can anyone help? Does anyone know someone who died from this procedure? How do I deal with the hubby? P L E A S E H E L P .... — Meirav M. (posted on August 1, 2001)
August 1, 2001
All the information i have found it is a death rate of less than one
percent. If this scares him have him look up the death rate of some of your
co-morbities or the obesity itself. I am sure they are much higher.
— [Anonymous]
August 1, 2001
According to my doctor and the other surgeon I consulted with,
the mortality rate is less than 1%...about the same as it s
or gallbladder removal.
— [Anonymous]
August 1, 2001
The other replies here are correct: With ANY invasive surgical procedure
requiring general anesthesia, there is a <1% statistical chance of
death. This is the same for having your appendix out, tonsils out, etc. If
you point this out to your husband and he remains opposed, ask him to look
at if he somehow feels threatened by this surgery, i.e. that you will
become thin and pretty and not want him anymore? Explain to him that the
statistics show that this surgery is 99% likely to PROLONG YOUR LIFE BY 20
YEARS. Remind him that you could die now at any time, due to complications
from morbid obesity. Hope this helps. Good luck.
— Lisa D.
August 1, 2001
Its best to ask your surgeon how many he has done and how many died. Thats
what I did. My surgon one deathe in over 600 LAP RNYs
— bob-haller
August 1, 2001
I too think that's an exaggeration. My physician, Dr. Sapala in Michigan is
9/4500. Each and everyone of those were smokers and got pnuemonia. My
advice, quit smoking and the odds greatly approve.
— Christine H.
August 1, 2001
Go here to view the memorial which lists those that have passed on. It's
my understanding the rate is 0.005% chance which is very low. I would
recommend talking w/ your surgeon and asking about their personal ratio.
Also I agree.. the chances of dying from being obese and the associated
comorbidities is EXTREMELY higher.
— [Anonymous]
August 1, 2001
Sorry here is the page to get to the memoral. There is a link to see the
risks etc.
http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/wlsmemorial.phtml
— [Anonymous]
August 1, 2001
I am 2 weeks pre-op. My research has come with <1% which includes
post-op complications. I believe that every day I see the sun rise at this
size is a bonus. After the surgery I'm confident I will be around for my
children AND then grandchildren (except for stray 18 wheelers coming at
me).
— Donna M.
August 2, 2001
It's funny, isn't it, how horrified the media is of fat people? And yet
when there is a method to help correct the problems we face, they
sensationalize the dangers.
The truth is that it is dangerous to be obese. I didn't have the surgery to
be thin. I had the surgery to be healthy. I didn't have any health problems
before surgery. I felt this was the BEST time to have it: before I gained
so much weight that my risk during surgery increased.
My husband was concerned, too. I have a small child and I wouldn't want to
see her grow up without me. But then again, that's why I had the surgery.
How many truly overweight old people do YOU know? The papers I signed at my
doctor's office said that the risk of the surgery is statistically the same
as being morbidly obese for four months. Only you can decide whether you're
willing to take the risk up front or wait it out!
— ctyst
August 2, 2001
Hi, My surgeon has lost one patient in over 1200 surgeries.
The patient weighed more than 500 lbs and had many co-morbids. Talk to your
surgeon, be honest and open about your concerns. Good Luck
— [Anonymous]
August 4, 2001
Hi, I'm post op 6 days, and to be honest the death percentages scared me
too. But death is a risk with any surgery, any. After researching the
risk and people that have died, I saw that most were over 500lbs, had major
comorbs, and probably would have died with out without the surgery. Talk
to your surgeon, assess your risks. And don't believe everything you hear
on T.V.. Yes people have died, but did they mention how many people have
this surgery every day and live? Of course not, there would be no story
there. They never mention the good stories.
— [Anonymous]
December 6, 2002
I talked to doc about this just yesterday. He said it was more like 1 in
100 but that was normally people with a BMI of 70+ or had other
compliations that led to death. A normal overweight person in good health
should not be any more concerned than having gallbladder out.
Think of it this way. It is better to have surgery now to prevent a worse
problem.
Hope this helps.
— Jackie B.
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