Obesity surgery often leads to complications (ny times)

[MissToodles]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/24/health/24health.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1153713600&en=849a102f6e33f985&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin

Are these complications typical with any sort of major operation?

[Tracyarts]

Some of those complications are an issue with any kind of surgery.

When I had a fairly major surgery last year (not a WLS procedure though) it was feared that my incision would become a wound and require a lot of prolonged and extensive care to close and heal.

Fortunately, it was not an issue for me, my incision closed very quickly and healed without complication.

There were other possible complications post surgery. Blood clots, respiratory infection, complications due to pain management drugs, infection of incision site, etc...

While there *are* WLS specific complications that can happen, a lot of the complications are general surgical complications. You are at risk for them regardless of what kind of surgery you have.

Tracy

[moonvine]

Not sure about the others, but I doubt the gastric juice leaking is an issue with most other types of surgery.

[Donna]

Not sure about the others, but I doubt the gastric juice leaking is an issue with most other types of surgery.

Ummm, no one said ALL the complications listed were general surgical complications, just SOME. Gastric juice leakage is a specific complication relating to surgery on or near the stomach.

I think the article is a fair assessment of bariatric surgery and offers unbiased statistics. Doesn't seem to be cheerleading WLS, nor does it decry it as butchery. Anyone whose ever had abdominal surgery, or really any major surgery for that matter, has to deal with the possibility of side effects. I had a hysterectomy a few years ago and the majority of the complications listed for WLS, and their frequency as listed in this article, were complications I was counseled about prior to going under the knife.

[Tracyarts]

Actually, come to think of it... since my surgery was abdominal surgery, I was warned of possible gastric leakage and perforated bowel if any of my digestive organs would be nicked or otherwise breached during the procedure.

All surgeries have specific risk factors, but there is a set of risk factors for complications which are unique to abdominal surgery in general. As well as a set of risk factors for complications which are present in any surgery.

That list of potential complications sounds a LOT like what I was presented with prior to my operation last year. It's not something I would really be taken aback over. All surgery is a big deal with the potential for major complications. Even surgeries as common as a C-section delivery have the same complications as any other abdominal surgery.

Tracy