Death from WLS?

[Emmaroo]

I know this is a bit of a touchy subject but it is something I've been considering a lot.

Does anybody know how many people die from this surgery? I mean what is the likeliness of dying? I know being overweight can shorten your life but by how much? Is it worth taking the risk?

How has everyone else dealt with the risk factor?

 

[Caroline101061]

Hi Emma

There is a risk with any operation and of course when you are larger like we are, then the risks are greater. I think the mortality rate for Bypass is 1/100. I had my surgery at the Whittington and they did and do every test possible to ensure that you are fit for surgery and if they feel that you arent, then they wont do it. I weighed everything up and realised that not having it put me at greater risk than having it so I went for it and Im still here to tell the tale!

Hope this helps.

 

[PinkyButtonz]

Deaths by Band or Bypass?

My surgeon said complication in Bypass are 1 in 200, but his was 1 in 500. He said this was usually because patient did not following instruction after their bypass. By complications I took it to mean deaths that he was talking about, I may be wrong.

 

[phatgirl]

Death unfortunately is the BIG complication of bypass, with the national stats of 1 in 200. However the stats of your own surgeon and hospital are what you must really pay attention to. With the experience of a surgeon having done over 200 surgeries, it has been proven by research that the mortality rate can be greatly reduced. My particular surgeon Dr. Ammori has stats like 1 in 1000 I believe. Additionally, when a hospital has had a high number of surgeries, the post-op complications are reduced as they are more as a team aware of symtoms and how to handle them early on for the best results. So check with your surgeon & hospital for their stats and you will have a better picture of your risks. Surgery of any type is always a risk and obese people as a population face a higher risk due to our size and overall health. It is important that you go into it with your eyes open and armed with the facts and figures which will allow you to make the best informed choice.

Best of luck to you,
Nic

 

[gillabean]

Gloomy subject, but before we go for this sort of procedure we should be aware of the risks. Complications can also be: puncture of the bowel itself, adhesions caused by scar tissue and failure of the skin and surrounding tissue to heal. If you smoke, then you MUST stop before your operation. Smoking makes healing so much more difficult.

 

[Cuppacocoa]

I asked my surgeon this question in detail when I met him, then wished I hadn't!

He has had 2 deaths in 400 ops, so I guess that's the same as the national 1 in 200 statistic. These deaths were from complications after surgery. It did scare me and it was all I could focus on after my meeting with him, but on getting things back into perspective I realise there have to be risks involved with surgery like this and it's my belief that sometimes you just have to take them.

Cuppacocoa xx

 

[Mixman]

My doc told me that it's always after the surgery that something happens. Complications, leaks etc.

Never on the table.

His rate was below national average. 0.4% deaths.

What's the statistics for having a shorter life for obese people?

 

[Porpo]

Hi,

The idea of dying does scare me - particularly this week as my op is on Saturday - I think all we can do is to get as much information as possible and make an informed choice.

I've reduced my risks (hopefully) by moving to an experienced surgeon with a good team. I know surgeons have to learn and they learn by making mistakes and everyone has to start somewhere but its probably selfish I dont want someone learning on me.

I've tried to minimise my risks but at the end of the day there's no guarentees so weigh it up carefully and good luck and also please keep your fingers crossed for me on Saturday.

XX

 

[WeightlossWannabee]

I asked my surgeon, Mr. Khan, at Walsall Manor, how many bypasses he had done. He said he had lost count.
How else can I find out??

 

[Caroline101061]

Ask his PA?

 

[gaelic girl]

My Surgeon had done 900 when i met him at my consultation in May and at that point had lost only one patient and that was down to underlying health problems. It would be wrong to go into this surgery without weighing up the risks and doing your research, everyone is an individual and therefore views risk differently, in my case i saw my bypass as a calculated risk and that was good enough for me to go ahead with it and ive never looked back since. Good Luck Emma x

 

[Bonita]

I asked my surgeon, Mr. Khan, at Walsall Manor, how many bypasses he had done. He said he had lost count.
How else can I find out??

When I initially went to see Mr Hartland in Dec last year, he told me that Mr Khan had done 634 bypasses. As he does an average of 15 operations a week I reckon he has to be going on for a thousand by now. I was also told at that time that the bariatric team had lost three patients two of which had died on none bypass complications (in other words they had something else wrong with them), but he didn't say which surgeon performed the operations.

I was told by Mr Youssef the risk was 3-100 but in my case because of the other illness there was a risk of 5-100 chance of getting complications. By complications they don't just mean death by the way. Complications can range from anything to being allergic to plasters, to wound problems, ward induced infections ect too.

My advice would be to ask Mr Youssef anything you feel you need to know because he isn't quite as evasive.