Complications & Mortality Rates

As much as I don't want to post this I'm hoping someone may be able to help. I (as most of you probably can relate) have been getting different opinions on this surgery. I am hoping for gastric bypass and just waiting on a surgery date. I was told that Beaumont Royal Oak has a very low complication rate (less than 1% I believe and have had zero mortalities. I was wondering is there's any publised data to give me exact number whether it be national, state or even through a particular hospital to be able to have the info ready at hand when someone gives me conflicting thoughts. Jen

i'm sorry but i have no answers, just a question... what is considered a "complication" when figuring out the complication rate? When you do get the numbers you're looking for don't forget to see how many surgeries they've done.  I tried the surgery once with a doctor who had done 75 laprascopic roux en y surgeries and no open ones.  He was unable to complete the surgery!  then i used someone who had done thousands and he performed my surgery flawlessly and now i'm two years out and consider my surgery a complete success.  the only real complications i have is i'm addicted to this bunch of crazy, zany people i've met through this board..

Sorry but I can't quite believe their statistics especially since a stricture is the most basic of all roux en y complications and happens to 1 in 20 people. I would say that they are strictly talking about mortality rates? Dawn

I just typed in bariatric surgery mortality rate-it gave several places and opinions. when  i was looking, i paid attention to the number of surgeries and the comp rate. the national average for mortality is 1 in 200, but there is so much more that has to be taken into consideration. most of the deaths after bariatric surgery were not from the surgery, but from health complications due to morbid obesity. the death rates are much higher for morbidly obese people than with people who have had the rny and gotten healthy. it is worth the risk in my opinion. good luck to you, teri

How many surgeries has YOUR doctor performed. That is the most important piece of information. It takes something like 175 surgeries for your doctor to be highly proficient at them. THAT's the statistic that mattered to me most. Dawn

Thanks for all the replies. I have no doubt that this is the way to go for me. My surgery has come highly recommended and done over 200 surgeries. I was just hoping to be able to tell those people who are trying to discourage me some "facts". Thanks again! Jen

Hi Jen..just remember too------you dont need to justify anything to anyone......you are making a choice of what is best for you-based on what your life has been, the research you have done and the outcomes that you expect.  This is your decision--and you dont have to please anyone else with it except for you!  Hug and good luck!  r