Kevin Mitchell Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr Mitchell seemed to be a very professional person, he answered all my questions thoroughly and recommended a seminar. My surgery is scheduled for July 26th, I'll update more after.

Dr. Yates was my first Dr. and now it is Dr. Mitchell Unbelievably Dr. Mitchell has now closed his practice as well and now I have no doctor for follow up care.

My first impression of Dr. Mitchell was that he was a very professional, mild manner individual.
My impression has not changed other than to be expanded by my experience to show me that he is very, very caring, very complete and very interested in the well being of his patients.
Dr. Mitchell's staff, Donna and Stef, are very capable and very informative. They have been quickly and absolutely responsive to any questions I have had. They have immediately followed up on any problems I presented.
I have no complaints about Dr. Mitchell or his staff.
Dr. Mitchell is a professional with only the best interests of his patients at heart. He is very communicative and willing to take as much time as you need with him. Do not be afraid to ask any questions you need. Dr. Mitchell also keeps the family members well informed at ever stage of the surgery and the program.
He is very complete with the aftercare. Appointments are every 7-10 days after the surgery for the first month. I cannot comment about more than that since my surgery was on the 28th of December and I as scheduled for my second post-op visit on Jan. 25.
Yes he is excellent in his after care program and the use of the support group and Forest Park Hospital is a big plus.
He was completely open and honest about the risks of the surgery. His supporting professionals at Forest Park were also very open and excellent, especially the doctors who would be assisting with breathing and in the ICU recovery.
I can only recommend him as excellent and I thank God that I found him. I doubt that I could have had better pre-op work, bedside care and post-op work for anyone else. I was very lucky.
Certainly the surgicial competence is very important, which Dr. Mitchell has, but his bedside manner and through discussion of every aspect and every action he is taking is important too.

I am very disappointed to announce that Dr. Mitchell has decided to close his practice and will not longer be peforming the gastric by-pass. This is a great loss to the community and to others. It is also a major loss in that his staff will not longer be working with gastric by-pass patients. Dr. Mitchell saved my life.

Dont' get me wrong, Dr. Mitchell , I initially felt, was a great doctor, and he is definately a caring person but he is too hessitant to face complications.The office gals were great too.I didn't have any complaints for or about him until about 2-3 months post op when I began to know something wan't right with the proceedure. He started out fine, appeared caring and concerned but refused to listen to me when I tried to tell him something was wrong....for 5 months he did NOTHING!!!! and now I have to have my surgery revised..he belittled and minimized my complaints and He actually told me it was all in my head. AND NOW, on top of all of my complications, he decided to close his practice, knowing full well that He was the only surgeon in my insurance plan trained in bariatric surgery and that he would be abandoning his patient without resolving my complications!I know that the complications are not his fault, scar tissue happens after all, but had he listened to me and responded to my complaints(vomiting on a daily basis, inability to keep anything that was not liquid or soft down), I feel I could have avioded a whole second surgery at all by ednoscopic dilation, but I feel he waited too long to respond and now it is too late.

4/10/02 Saw Dr. Mitchell today.He seemed to be friendly enough. Professional and congenial. Office staff was very nice, and informative.He is the same as I remember from the seminar. The least thing that I liked is that he was in a hurry but explained why and told me that I could make another appt. or call before the day of surgery if I had any more questions. Future patients should know that he does not sugar coat everything and will be straight with you. The aftercare seems to be a bit lacking but a patient can help him or herself by staying in contact with the doctors office and nutritionist. The risks of surgery were addressed and advice about supplements discussed. A good doctor and caring. Sugical competence seemed better than bedside manner but we were in his office not the hospital. He was easygoing and gave advice as to what is best at the hospital and asked about my family. I feel that I will be in good hands.Well It is 4-26-02 Man do I feel "different" The day of surgery, I got nervous as I filled out the necessary paper work and so forth.I was weighted and had to give that wonderful urine specium. You know where your trying not to over flow the cup after you've told the nurse that you might have trouble giving one. Anyways The angle of needles came in as a matter or factly and started to ask me a bunch of questions. Her name was Mary jo. She talked easily and professionaly. The anest. Dr. came in and gave his bit prying me to open my mouth and all. I kept answering the questions with uh huhs and nopes. They chuckled a bit at my nervousness. Mary Jo is honestly the best stick I have ever experienced. She put my IV in and administered the heprin and it did'nt hurt at all. I could tell you some horror stories about iV's. Soon my blood was typed and I went to holding. Since my eyes were getting bigger and bigger with each new person I was introduced to I was given a pretty good dose of "calming medicine" Next thing I know I woke up and was in the worst pain I have ever experienced.I tried in my mind to run from it. Terrible pain. I begged for some help. The man next to me was not doing well and the staff was trying to intubate him. between that and my pain and not seeing anyone I knew I panicked a bit. Was fighting a bit to get up. Quickly now someone took me away. and I was given something for pain and a warm blanket. Better now. I must have slept most of the day when I awoke I was in my new room.Nurses were voices and blurs as they busied themselves, some would pat you and say you will be fine doc says surgery went well here is a little something I have to give you for your blood so we don't go developing a clot. The next day the Doctor walks in and gives me a pat on the shoulder and says all went well how are you ect.. Ask me if I had any questions and left.....the new me is fully awake now. Getting up was hard at firt easier afterwards was dissappointed about tireing so easily though. Lots of visitors phone calls and so on My days went by quickly.

Dr. Mitchell was very honest and open. He was kind and very informative about the risk factors and the procedures.

His office staff is professional and responsive to helping with questions or issues.

Oh yes, he emphasizes aftercare.

I would rate Dr. Mitchell very highly.

I had my initial consult on 4/16/01 with Dr. Mitchell. I was hoping to talk with other patients in the waiting room but we were the only ones there and I got called back in about 5 minutes. He explained the RNY to my husband and I and then answered my many questions. He was very soft spoken and never seemed rushed. When I asked about the possibility of an epideral, he said he usually only used them on patients who got the RNY and tummy tuck at the same time but he was willing to let me have one if I wanted. We did not discuss aftercare at all. He stated that once I had insurance approval we could probably schedule in 30 days. There were two things that made me a little uncomfortable. One, he doesn't perform the swallow test until 2-3 weeks post op and second he could not keep eye contact. I have talked to other patients of his and they say after they had seen him more he did keep eye contact, that this is just him and not dishonesty.
UPDATE 3/4/02 I had my surgery with Dr. Mitchell last July and found him to be an excellent surgeon. I would recommend him to anyone considering surgery.

Dr. Mitchell seemed very sincere. My impression of Dr. Mitchell has not changed. All of his staff seemed very nice and willing to do what they could to help you. There was nothing I did not like about Dr. Mitchell. He seems like a very concerned doctor and I know that he will take good care of me.
I believe that surgical competence is very important but bedside manner is also important. You need to feel comfortable with the doctor who will be doing surgery on you and following up with you after surgery.

Dr. Mitchell is an extrodinary man. Didn't talk alot - but really listened to me. His staff was really sweet and helpful. Dr. Mitchell is very quiet, but is always there to help you when needed. He is very blunt - he will tell you that he is not in this to make money - if you are not a canidate - he will not do the surgery - no if's, and's, or but's about it.
The risks were explained. He is the type of doctor that will answer all of your questions - but doesn't really offer an overwhelming amount of information.
Overall, I would recommend him as a surgeon. He has good bedside manners and is very helpful if needed.

My surgeon and his staff were wonderful. I never felt uncomfortable discussing anything with them. Dr. Mitchell has a wonderful bedside manner.

The only unpleasant part of the experience is the hospital where my surgery was done. Dr. Mitchell operates at 2 hospitals in St. Louis and Forest Park/Deaconess was the wrong one to go to. He tells me he now has his own area of the hospital so his patients are not just grouped with all post-surgical patients.