Question:
I have my first consult Monday with a surgeon that specializes in LAP

surgeries and has been trained and doing the LAP RNY for about 1 1/2 years. He is well respected and referred often by doctors in our area. Also, he had the surgery last year. I think that he has only done between 15 - 20 of these surgeries. Is that enough for me to be comfortable with?    — YvonneBryant (posted on May 31, 2002)

May 30, 2002
I just had Lap RNY 3 weeks ago. I was really concerned about the number or Lap surgeries under my surgeons belt as well. I think you should probably ask your surgeon some tough questions. How many open RNYs have they done? How long does it take him to do Lap Rny (2 1/2 hours is average for someone who is experienced) What has his complication rate been with his RNY surgeries, both Lap and Open? Has he lost any patients in this procedure or as a result of the procedure? These are sometimes embarassing questions to ask, but you have the right to know and a good surgeon expects them. You have to ask the questions that will help you to find peace with your decision to have this surgery. My surgeon was Dr. Bradley Needleman at Ohio State University and I can honestly say I would do it again in a heartbeat. He performed about 220 LAP surgeries (over the past two years) prior to mine. Good luck!
   — Paula B.

June 2, 2002
Hi Sherri, when comparing Dr's I had a similar situation. Mine had only been doing WLS for about one year, HOWEVER, he had been a LAP Surgeon for more than TEN!!! So, you're really looking at the LAP procedure totally different than an OPEN procedure. Why aren't those Dr's that have done 1000 open procedures doing LAPS yet?? Because the LAP procedure is something to master all by itself! If I had my choice between an experienced open WLS Dr doing a LAP surgery on me or an experienced LAP surgeon (not so experienced WLS yet) doing the LAP on me, I will take the experienced LAP Surgeon. This is what I did and 12 months and 150 lbs lighter (now at goal!!) I have NO regrets! =) Blessings,
   — ChristiMNB