Question:
1 in 200
I am wondering if 1 in 200 is a high ratio for death rate? I have read here where dr's have none in over 300 or 1,000 ect. As most people here seem to be, I too am so very afraid and this information doesnt make things better for me. Any advice on this? — bleever (posted on August 9, 2002)
August 9, 2002
Brandi, that is pretty high. My surgeon has performed close to 500 RNY's
and has yet to have a death (with the exception of one, but it was not WLS
related).
— karmiausnic
August 9, 2002
This is a good question. Wanna know what my husband said when I started
talking death stats? He said pick a number between 1-200. I picked 89.
He said no. It was 111. He said try again. SO I tried again. I still
did not pick the number he had chosen. We did this for like 10 min. I
could not pick the same number for the life of me. He said see....that is
how unlikely you are to be the one in 200 that will DIE from this. It
really really made me put things into perspective. ALSO, this is a BIG
one. God decides on when your time is...not you. So getting this surgery
is not going to make you die any sooner than he has planned. If you need
the surgery, get it. If you think you can still try regular dieting
methods do that until you suceed or decided you need the surgery. Good
luck to you and remember that this surgery saves lives way more than it
does take lives.
— Michelle J.
August 9, 2002
Also consider, what's the rate if you DON"T have the surgery? 1 in
200 is the national average, including all the new surgeons. Complication
rates decrease dramatically after the first 50 surgeries, so check on your
specific doctor.
— jen41766
August 9, 2002
Let me try to help you.
I'm a retired RN, that worked surgery[PACU] recovery room in a large
hospital.
Please try never to fear surgery. My husband & I both have had major
surgery, his heart & my brain.
You need to go to sleep with a smile on your face & pleasant thoughts
& wishes in your mind. Happiness lets your body recover more quickly,
because it won't feel any stress while your were sleeping during surgery.
Our surgeons always wonder how we can be so happy? We usually feel that our
family & friends our watching over us. While we sleep during surgery,
we are planning a great new day. We wake up & are ready for a new day.
Each of us that has a weight problem have normal risk everyday that may
never happen.
Always try not to dwell on anything negative. Think positive & you will
be a new person after surgery.
Best wishes to you.
— Mary H.
August 9, 2002
I do not think that is too high. I have heard that the national death rate
for any surgery runs about 1 in 100. Anytime you are put under general
anesthesia for anything...you run the risk of death. But, it is still very
low. And is this death rate while they are actually on the operating table
or does it include all post op related deaths? That is always a good
question to ask. My surgeon has lost a few patients after the surgery, but
I still completely trusted him and he did a great job on my surgery.
Sometimes, these people would have died regardless if they had had the
surgery or not. I think skill and experience is very important in a
surgeon, and I think you should question these things...but I also think it
is impossible to find a surgeon who has a 0% death rate. Good Luck!
— Shawnie S.
August 9, 2002
That is the same as my surgeon's office death rate. I came out just fine,
even though I did make out a living will. If you do not have the surgery,
it will be very certain that you will die quickly because more and more
things would be wrong with you as your body retained more sugar and fat.
All I remembered, was the anestesiologist telling me I would be asleep in
thirty seconds after he injected the "stuff that will put you to
sleep". and then I remembered the incision hurting me in the recovery
room and I kept on pressing the button. Morphine is your friend at that
point. My surgeon, Dr. Perez, was very good and my incision is healing
better than expected so don't worry about it. Just remember that there is
a risk, but if you have as good a surgeon as mine, every precaution will be
taken and you will be just fine. Good luck and God bless.
— Lawrence R.
August 9, 2002
Hi there! My surgeon had only completed a little over 200 surgeries when I
went for my consult. And he had had 3 deaths all of whom were between
400-500 pounds with a lists of co-morbities that didn't end. It makes a
difference what kind of person you are going into the surgery. When he
told me about his deaths, I wasn't terribly shaken because I weighed 307
with NO co-morbities, so I figured the odds were on my side. And it's the
best decision I ever made. Think about your chances of living a long life
if you stay morbidly obese... Good luck with your decision. Open RNY
4.29.02 -63
— stacey L.
August 9, 2002
Well its for ALL WLS patients, including those 500 pounds and up, 60+ years
old with major co morbidities as well. So a fairly healthy 40 year old isnt
as risky. Blood clots are a big killer. So I was determined to get up and
walk walk walk right after surgery, and did. We are our surgeons partners,
and complying with the rules helps us to do better.
— bob-haller
August 9, 2002
I look at the memorial page and then the members pages I think the
members pages far outweigh the memorial page--we must realize that every
day we take risks---when you get in your car you take a risk of being in an
accident---
— Linda L.
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