Question:
How strong does the staple lines stay over the years? Do they weaken?

I am working on having Lap RNY by the summer. i am already having the post-op patient anxiety and second guessing. I was wondering if anyone has any information concerning possible long term Post Op complications. I know alot about things that can happen right after surgery but nothing about what can happen 10-20 yrs from now. Will the staple lines weaken? What are my chances of having fatal complication 20 yrs from now? Is this truly going to lengthen my life or could it cut it short later? Anyone?    — Kicker (posted on April 17, 2002)

April 16, 2002
Hi Missie, Boy do I understand your anxiety. That seems to be the whole problem with the surgery for me. No one seems to have long term answers. I questions where are all the people who have had the surgery 5 or more years ago. They just don't seem to show up on any of these web sites. I wish I could answer your questions for your benefit and mine.
   — sherry H.

April 16, 2002
I hope this helps a bit. I had a gastroplasty in 1983 - 19 years ago. The staples are still there although it was very hard to tell exactly how stable the staple line was with the endoscopy it seems that my pouch had expanded quite a bit. This was back when they did a horizontal staple with a ring which allowed stretching of the pouch. Now the surgeries (at least my surgeon does it this way) staple on the side where the stomach is the strongest - the muscular side - and where it stretches the least. Also, the rest of the stomach is transected - this will help a great deal. I hope this helps explain things a bit.
   — Vicki H.

April 16, 2002
I was wondering about this exact same thing, and then I read on this website that it is better to have a transected pouch with staples AND sutures. I called my surgeon's office to ask about the transected pouch, and they told me that they do transect the pouch and use staples and reinforcing sutures. My understanding is that if the pouch is transected, you stand a much smaller chance of needing a revision later on because no food can get into your regular stomach. Also, with the staples and reinforcing sutures, the new pouch is supposed to HEAL that way so that even if the staples came out later on (which I've heard is unlikely), the pouch would still function like it's supposed to--in other words, it becomes your stomach. Someone please correct me if I got anything wrong, but this is my understanding. Good luck on your decision!
   — Kristie B.

April 22, 2002
I know of a woman who had the surgery about 18-20 years ago and she is fine. She lost the weight she wanted to and maintained it. She still eats tiny amounts of food, mostly clam chowder, but she has not had any life threatening problems. Sorry, that's all the input I can give.
   — Peggy D.