Question:
Do you have to be a certain BMI to qualify for LapRNY
I read that this procedure is not done on certain persons because of their BMI being too high. Can anyone help me with this? — Carol S. (posted on August 6, 2002)
August 6, 2002
Ahh your BMI is 80. My surgeon in pittsburgh does these LAP. Its primarily
a matter of your suregens skill, experience, and the surgery room tools
available. Extra long lap tools are VERY expensive. <P>
My surgeon does folks like you in 2 stages, one the stomach reduction and
later the bypass of intestines, its safer this way. A friend of mine had a
start waist of 75 and a higher BMI than you. He is still loosing now down
over 200 pounds!<P> You will need to search for a surgeon many will
not want you as your a challenge. You will be at risk to wake up converted
to open, its always a risk but the bigger you are the more it becomes a
risk. Good luck you will be a success, wether its open or lap.
— bob-haller
August 6, 2002
I am not sure about the RNY, but I do know that alot of people with high
BMI's have the Duodenal Sitch. It has a much higher long term weight loss.
I think stats show that with the higher BMI, the DS is has MUCH more
effect. There are a couple of great site.
www.duodenalswitch.com and www.mywls.com
Also yahoo groups: duodenal switch
The best of luck on what ever you choose. I had my DS almost 1 year ago I
am -118 and I eat normal, no one can tell I even had an operation (other
that the Weight loss ;0) I would do it over in a heart beat!!!!!!
— Jody Diou
August 6, 2002
My BMI was 81.0 when I had my RNY performed laproscopically and all at one
time. My surgeon's speciality is lap surgeries, so he was confident that
it wouldn't be a problem. I had my surgery performed at Cedars-Sinai in
Los Angeles. This facility is quite used to performing surgeries on larger
people. Long instruments are a factor--so is the weight limit for the OR
table. Lap surgeries require a different table, basically one that can be
turned around 180 to 360 degrees. In other words, since long incisions
aren't made and internal organs moved around as is done with
"Open" surgeries, the way that an RNY is performed Lap is that
the table is moved all around...for example, the person is tilted so that
the organs "fall forward" to get where the surgeon needs to be.
At times, the person is upside down as well. My surgeon said that he had
me completely upside down, both vertically and horizontally. There was
only one final manuever that was difficult because of my size, and that, he
said, was when I was turned completely around while the pouch was being
made. So, he said that my pouch has a slightly odd shape as a result. The
pain afterwards was minimal...especially compared with the "Open"
gall bladder surgery that was performed back east in 1986. The only
additional wounding for me was that I was black and blue on some spots on
my arms and legs because of the tables holding me in place...but no big
deal. = )
— CaseyinLA
August 6, 2002
Carol, As you can see, there are doctors who will do lap at extremely high
weights. My doc did lap on a man who had a BMI of 66. If the surgeon is
skilled in the procedure, I don't see where the limit would fall. I love
my itty bitty lap scars. Best wishes in your journey!
— Tina B.
August 6, 2002
Hi Carol. All surgeons are different. My surgeon does not go by BMI, but by
weight. He will not preform Lap over 350lbs. It's all a preference. Best of
luck!
— karmiausnic
August 6, 2002
I agree with Bob and Colleen's responses....everything depends on the
expertise and experience of the laparascopic surgeon and his (or the
hospital's) more specialized equipment. Our bariatric surgeon is one of
the pioneers in the field, and specializes in laparascopic WLS. He
evaluates each prospective on an individual basis, but has performed many
lap surgeries on patients with extremely high BMIs and weighing plus/minus
600 lbs. My daughter's BMI was 70, and she had a totally uncomplicated lap
RNY. She is almost at goal, after taking a small "break" to have
her first baby :-) Best wishes to you!
— Diana T.
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