NYTimes Editorial on WLS - TODAY!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 25, 2006 Editorial The Complications of Obesity Surgery The latest evaluation of drastic weight-loss surgery provides both good news and bad news for patients who are severely obese. The study by federal health analysts found that the death rate from so-called bariatric surgery was relatively low but that the rate of subsequent complications was twice as high as measured in previous studies that followed patients for much shorter periods. Even so, for some people, the benefits of the drastic surgery, which typically involves shortening the intestines and reducing the size of the stomach, must surely outweigh the risks. The new study, which was conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, examined insurance claims data for some 2,500 people under age 65 who had weight-loss surgery in 2001 and 2002. The death rate was only two per thousand patients. But 22 percent of the patients suffered complications during their initial stay in the hospital, and that number rose to 40 percent during the first six months after discharge. The complications ranged from the relatively routine, like diarrhea and vomiting, to more serious leakage of gastric fluids, abdominal hernias and infections. The report found that laparoscopic bariatric surgery, which requires only small incisions, had a lower complication rate. So as laparoscopy increasingly becomes a favored mode of treatment, complications should come down. Patients will need to be aware of these problems, but they do not seem grave enough to warrant shunning surgery that is often the only hope for morbidly obese patients who may be 100 or more pounds overweight. # # # # # Home World U.S. N.Y. / Region Business Technology Science Health Sports Opinion Arts Style Travel Jobs Real Estate Automobiles Back to Top Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company

Thanks for posting this! That was a neat read!

Hi O.L.A.I.M.! For the NYTimes, this is as close to an endorsement as Lap. RNY's are gonna get! That is a very significant and encouraging development! I'll be speaking Sat. morning 8/19 at the Ft. LAUDERDALE OH conference. and giving FREE coaching consults that day! Hope to see you there! Lauralyn

Lauralyn, I won't be able to attend the event, I'll be in the middle of packing I believe... and I've been hearing about your talks.. wish I could go!! BTW, the name is Amy, the reason I don't have it as my "name" on here is because my mother in law is psychotic and kept trying to snoop me out. Have a great day!

Dear Amy, I had a hunch that if I called you O.L.A.I.M. you'd give me a better name to call you by! And you did! Since you won't be coming to Ft. Lauderdale and since you said those nice things about me if you'd like a FREE REPRINT of my article on "OVERCOMING SELF-SABOTAGE" in the previous issue (#3) of OH magazine just ask me! Lauralyn

oh gosh.. I'd love one!! Do you have a soft copy, or only hard copies?

Yesterday, I decided to enter the 21st century & have my article in OH magazine issue 3 [pp. 76-78] digitally scanned onto a CD. So anyone who'd like to read a copy of the story as it appeared in the magazine, email me! Stay in touch, Amy! Lauralyn

Normally, I'd send a direct email to you; but, that's exactly what is not working here so Amy - this message is for you. Twice tonight I've sent emails to the address provided to me linked to your profile by OHI, I've literally clicked on the blue email address and both times the Postmaster has returned it in seconds as undeliverable. So email me directly with confirmation of your email address, OK? Nighty night! Lauralyn

I've had my article on OVERCOMING SELF-SABOTAGE & YOYO DIETING digitally scanned, so anyone who wants a reprint will get exactly that - a reproduction of the actual magazine cover & pages. Neat, huh? Friendly reminder to AMY - There must be some kind of typo in your email listing for this message board, because the dread MAILER DAEMON will not permit my replies to you, including the reprint, to pass! Lauralyn

Sounds exactly like something I need to read. How do I get a copy? Thanks. Betty