Link to DM Register article

If you don't subscribe to the Register & want to see the article go here- http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4788998/22537690.html This situation really bothers me. They are being so negative. It had spread all over the state. We only have one surgeon in the Waterloo area who does the surgery and he was interviewed in the Waterloo Courier on Friday. At least the Courier were fair in their reporting. Here is the article- Gastric bypass surgery deaths in D.M. fuel fears, local doctor says By EMILY GRAHAM, Courier Staff Writer CEDAR FALLS --- People considering gastric bypass surgery shouldn't be alarmed by reports six patients recently have died from the surgery in Des Moines, according to one local doctor. Dr. Matt Glas**** medical director of the bariatric surgery program at Sartori Memorial Hospital, said he does not know all the details surrounding the deaths at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, and that is the biggest problem. "Stories like that only fuel the public's fear," he said. A copyrighted story in Thursday's Des Moines Register reported the deaths. Many important details, like how the procedure was done, how the surgeon was trained and what complications developed were not included in the article, he said. Glas**** has been performing the stomach reduction surgery since February 2003 in Cedar Falls. Before that, he performed the surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. With more than 500 surgeries completed, he has yet to report a death. "I've certainly had complications," he said, "some even requiring surgery to fully recover." Glas**** said a key feature of his program is early identification of potential complications. Each candidate is put through a battery of tests prior to the surgery to pinpoint any potential problems. Some surgeries have been postponed or canceled because of the test results. Each candidate is given a list of questions to be answered by their surgeon prior to the procedure. The questions range from how much training the surgeon has had to the types of support available after the procedure. Glas**** said if the patient has any doubts, they shouldn't go through with it. "There are a lot of people that think bariatric surgery is inappropriate. Things like this only provide fuel for them as they rally against us," he said. "Yes, this is a major surgery with potentially life-threatening complications. But, if it is performed by a highly trained person ... those risks can be greatly reduced. They are never zero, but greatly reduced." The operation, known as bariatric surgery and specifically as the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, involves closing off a large part of the stomach to limit the amount of food patients can eat. Patients are advised to have the surgery only if dieting and exercise have been unsuccessful in taking off weight." I am a patient of Dr Glas**** and have complained to everyone about all the hoops I have had to jump though to have the surgery. Mine has been postponed for a few months because a tumor was detected during my ultrasound & a hysterectomy was needed. If he hadn't been so picky & ordered the ultrasound and CT scan, I would still have a huge tumor and that could have hampered my recovery. I feel so much better now that it is gone. I have more energy & can walk so much easier. That will help my recovery. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that the DM surgeon is not careful. I am sure he is or there would have been many more deaths. I have heard only good things about him. I am saying my surgeon is ultra-careful & it apparently has worked for him. Lets hope this news blitz blows over soon. Too many people believe everything they see in the paper. Dixie

Thanks for sharing that link Dixie. I haven't had the opportunity to read any of the other articles before this. Its unfortunate that so many deaths occured in the same place in a relatively short time period but I still maintain that may be coincidence and is still within the parameters of expected mortality for the surgery. I know that sounds cold to the victims families but we all accepted risks when we chose to have this surgery and the ones with the most severe comorbidities probably assume even higher risks. The hospitals may be making money on the procedure but unfortunately hospital economics and publicity go hand so they have to act accordingly. Bureaucracy? Bias? Yes. Fair? No. What else is new in the world of medicine and insurance? I know that's no consolation for the many people still out there needing WLS- they are in for a harder struggle to be accepted. It's not fair that the media has presented WLS in such a biased light when the majority have had successful experiences. Maybe if enough people challenged the Register to portray an entire series on WLS profiles as a follow-up, eventually one of the editors would recognize a good human interest story!

Michelle, I agree that a series on WLS patients woud be great & they could include both success stories as well as the rough ones. I know that my surgeon has had patients who had a really rough recovery. We, as patients, need to know that it may not be a smooth recovery. Too many believe that everything will be great after the surgery. From reading profiles here & postings on my local WLS group, I learned quickly that that may not be the case. However, it is a chance I am willing to take, but it is an informed decision. Dixie

I just sent a letter to the editor, you can do it online, click on that website, and on the right side, it says where you can write the editor. I think we ALL SHOULD! so come on al of you, lets send some letters and tell them what its really about~! Judi