obesity surgery story in star tribune Minnesota.

I dont agree saved my life. wanted to know what you all thought Obesity surgery far riskier than thought Associated Press Last update: October 19, 2005 at 6:23 AM Obesity surgery far riskier than thought CHICAGO -- Obesity surgery, the most drastic way to lose weight, is far more than a cosmetic procedure and involves considerably higher risks of death than previously thought, new research suggests. Some previous studies of people in their 30s to their 50s -- the most common ages for obesity surgery -- found death rates well under 1 percent. But among 35- to 44-year-olds in a new study, more than 5 percent of men and nearly 3 percent of women were dead within a year, and slightly higher rates were seen in patients 45 to 54. Among patients 65 to 74, nearly 13 percent of men and about 6 percent of women died. In patients 75 and older, half of the men and 40 percent of the women died. "The risk of death is much higher than has been reported,'' said University of Washington surgeon Dr. David Flum, lead author of the study of 16,155 Medicare patients. "It's a reality check for those patients who are considering these operations.'' The study, involving patients who underwent obesity surgery between 1997 and 2002, appears in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association. The study offered no breakdown on causes of death, but obesity surgery's potentially deadly complications can include malnutrition, infection, and bowel and gallbladder problems. Also, surgery in general can be a deadly shock to the system, especially in older patients. Dr. Neil Hutcher, president of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, said that Medicare patients are probably sicker than the general U.S. population and that complication rates have declined as surgeons' expertise has increased. But Flum said some previous research on the safety of obesity surgery consisted of "reports from the best surgeons reporting their best results,'' while the new study is more of a real-world look. The American Society for Bariatric Surgery predicts obesity surgery will be performed more than 150,000 times this year in the United States. That is more than 10 times the number in 1998, according to a second JAMA study. The increase parallels a surge in the portion of U.S. adults who are at least 100 pounds overweight, from about 1 in 200 in 1986 to 1 in 50 in 2000, that study said. Supporters of stomach-reduction surgery say the operation can save their lives by reducing the workload on the heart and lungs and eliminating related illnesses, such as diabetes and sleep apnea. Flum said the new study suggests that in many cases, obesity surgery may not be right for an older person "who already has the burden of 60 years of obesity on their heart'' and other organs. Medicare covers obesity surgery if it is recommended to treat related conditions such as diabetes and heart problems. The government is considering whether to cover surgery to treat obesity alone. Medicare is for younger Americans with disabilities and for patients 65 and older. Flum said most of the patients he studied were under 65 and probably qualified for Medicare because of obesity-related ills, including heart and joint problems. There are several types of obesity surgery, but the most common U.S. variety, gastric bypass, involves creating an egg-size pouch in the upper stomach and attaching it to a section of intestine. That reduces the amount of food patients can eat and results in less food being absorbed. Flum's study lumped together data on the different operations. Researchers said one reason men may have higher post-surgery death rates is that they tend to wait longer than women to seek medical help and may be sicker when the operation is performed. A third JAMA study cast doubt on whether obesity surgery reduces health-care costs. It found that among patients followed for about three years, an average of 8 percent were hospitalized before surgery, mostly for obesity-related complications, compared with 20 percent a year afterward, mostly for surgery-related complications. That study's lead author, Dr. David Zingmond of the University of California at Los Angeles, said some people mistakenly view obesity surgery as a cosmetic procedure and "may greatly discount the chances that they're going to have problems after surgery.'' Hutcher said patients should seek experienced surgeons who meet his group's guidelines. Those include thoroughly evaluating patients before and after surgery and giving them long-term follow-up care. Most patients "will receive a good outcome. A good outcome does not mean there's no risk for complications or mortality,'' Hutcher said.

Hello Di M, The every news show in Arizona has had that article on it the past couple of days. Now everybody is calling me asking me if I heard that I could die..not only on the table but...up to a year later. Oh my, there are so many risks for so many things we do in life. Come on people...we all know that this surgery isn't for everybody...but, I am pre-op and I don't need the drama in my life at this point. I have made my decision and I am at peace with that. Many others out there may be more nervous now because of this article...in the long run I hope it helps somebody see both sides of the story. Virginia

Hello everyone...My name is Mandie...mostly I just poke around on this board but today I feel like I need to say something.. I emailed Dateline NBC this morning for the poor job they did in researching the "study" that found there may be more dangers than originally thought. I WAS SO MAD< ANGRY< TICKED OFF that they obviously did not take the time and get all the facts together before they made such an issue out of this topic, and for what a 2-minute segment. My surgeon made plenty sure I knew the risks, and benefits. That is why I like Dr. Pop. He gives it to you straight forward, even the "you could die from this surgery alone" speach. I find it hard to believe that the media even understands what most of us are going through up to the point of surgery. NBC neglected to say that in most cases the pros outweigh the cons. Isn't open heart surgery just as dangerous, but yet a LIFE-SAVING OPERATION at the same time?! Since surgery, my aches and pains are subsiding, I am able to go on long walks without being winded, I no longer junch over because of back pain, and the best thing is my cholesterol, which used to be dangerously high, is now in the normal range and is only 168. I am gaining my life back! I would have this surgery again even with knowing what it is supposedly we don't already know! I have researched this for 4 years and was plenty ready for my day to come. I honestly think I will live a much longer and a much fuller life now that I have been given this tool! THANK YOU DR.POPLAWSKI and everyone at BARIX CLINICS IN YPSILANTI! Mandie Pre-surgery......444 Day of surgery .426 Today.............373

i totally agree. i was completely aware of what i was doing and what could happen. id sure do it again. i wish they would understand that this is life changing just as hip surgery or open heart. we didnt get obese so we could have this surgery.....geez. if we all wrote to the people that write this sensationalized news they would sure get an earful. have a great day get your water in. Diane in MN

I'm reading a book called "The Real Skinny On Weight Loss Surgery" and I just finished reading something about this. The doctor in this book says that "90% of bariatric patients experience NO significant complications".....It is important that people realize that complications happen in EVERY single surgery not just weight loss surgery. He says that "most bariatric complications are over "media-ized".... "Over a given period of time in a large hospital several patients may have complications and even die from joint replacement, or elective, general, and plastic surgery, or complications from obesity in general, yet it's the bariatric surgical cases that draw all the media attention. So don't buy into the media hype: just do your HOMEWORK, WEIGH THE RISKS, and MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION"....... I love this quote and I think I will carry it around with me forever: " The jump is so frightening between where I am and where I want to be...... because of all I may become I will close my eyes and leap!" Jamie

I seen something about this on the news. I know people who have had complications and I know a few who have died after surgery. This did not change my mind one bit... They are changing the stats and I was thinking about it... They are saying medicare patients, elderly, disabled etc... I am no mathematical genius but I was thinking this is probably no different than the 1 death in 200 figure I've always heard... just a different way of looking at it. Next week they'll have the stats about how many patients with blonde hair died... FUNNY how they never go over co-morbidities.... and how hard it is to live and care for yourself at this weight. We all know the risks... and the benefits...

I wish I could say that we are all aware of the risks before we go into surgery. I still have people tell me all the time what they didn't know before... how they were never told this or that... and did not realize the potentially serious consequences. When we do have someone die, people seem surprised and outraged and look immediately to see who they can blame. Sometimes I think stories like this are good... those of us who have truly investigated and weighed the options will still do it... those of us who are doing it to look cute, fit in a roller coaster, get in a size 6 may think twice. This is a life-altering surgery and many people are just not aware that they may have to live a totally different life because they are unable to tolerate certain foods for a lifetime, or battle anemia or other malnutrition issues forever. Some feel very betrayed when the "complications" happen to them - we often don't envision ourselves as one of the statistics. Unfortunately, we are such a statistic driven medical model now that the people who need this surgery the most are often being denied because they are so high risk?! Bottom line - did it make you think? did you investigate a little more before making your decision? did you try one more diet before you decided to have surgery?? - then perhaps the article did what it intended to do... and is that such a bad thing? B