Blockage of the esophagus ?

 

 

Hi: Greetings from Sunny Florida, hoping all is well you and your. I have heard that some WLS patients have needed to have their throats stretched or their pouches, because they can not swallow due to blockage of the airway. Do you have any info on this situation ? Does this have to do with the size Bou'gie that was used ? If this is the case, I would think that the larger Bou'gie would be the correct one to use ! Or maybe it's due to swelling of the esophagus or stomach. But I have read a few where the patient had been post op for about a year or so, before this condition started occurring.

I surely don't know why this happens. This not only had to do with VSG, but with some of the other surgeries too.

Just trying to get all the info I can, before I jump into surgery.

 

Wishing you the best always.

 

88 (FL)

You have misread the information.  It is not an uncommon thing for the surgical site (the stoma) of the RNY to narrow as it heals, which restricts the flow of food and liquids from the new pouch.

Once this is confirmed (by an EDG) the stoma can be stretched slightly to reopen it, and then the food and liquids will pass easily.  This may take only once to do, or can require more stretches, but it is usually an outpatient procedure and is easily done.

Please do continue to research and question so that you know what you're getting for your money and your life.  Just don't let the different complications turn into something they are not.

Best wishes,
 

Lynn has given you a very good description of what a stricture is in the RNY. It's a bit different in the VSG, since the VSG doesn't have a stoma.In the VSG, it's a scarring that constricts the stomach, but the treatment is pretty much the same. A few people with a stricture in the Sleeve have required surgical correction, but this isn't very common. (But it does seem to be more common with a smaller bougie is used.)

BTW, the airway (trachea) is not the same as the esophagus. If your airway became blocked, you would die within minutes.

OOPS!  I didn't know which surgery he was investigating!  Thanks for pointing that out.

And you are definitely right re: the trachea.  VERY noticeable if something goes wrong there!

He did start out talking about pouches, but at the end he threw in something about the VSG, so I figured he needed all the info he could get.

Interestingly, back when I first came here, no one ever talked about having a stricture in a Sleeve. (Of course, it was only DSers who had Sleeves back then.) About four years ago, surgeons started making smaller Sleeves, especially for those getting just a Sleeve, and we started hearing about strictures. Sometimes smaller is NOT better!

Yes, I agree with your last sentence.  Unfortunately, the only way these things are learned are "in practice" and the patients (us!!) are the guinea pigs.

I agree also that the OP needs all the info he can get;  it looks as if he's trying too hard and may be getting things mixed up.  Then when he starts talking about the instrument sizes--a good point but how does one tell a surgeon which tools to use????!

It's like me and computers.  As my daughter says, I know just enough to be dangerous!  I do wish him luck in demystifying his chosen type of surgery.

LOL! My brother is a computer whiz, and he pretty much maintains my and my mother's computers for us. He's shown me how to 'fix' a few things, but he tells me I'm not to be trusted with the 'sharp, pointy tools'.

I absolutely LOVE the knowlege base on the board.
Knowledge is power.
D

Right on, Sister!