Can you Die from a leak?

I was reading another post and Dr. Alvarez's pateint got a leak in the hotel. So what it they did not go to the hospital. Isnt the hotel almost 4 hours from his clinic? What happens? Who fixes it? I know it rarely happens. But all the "what if's" are singing im my head now. 

Yes, you can die from a leak. A leak is a very serious complication and fast treatment is required. People have ended up spending several weeks in the hospital recovering from a leak, although I cannot remember anyone dying from one (but nearly dying, yes). I can't answer your questions specifically with regard to Dr. Alvarez.

Every surgery has potentially deadly complications - VSG is no exception. As you say, leaks are rare - but you can die from them. But... you can also die from being morbidly obese...

You are right you can die from being obese. I am just a bit freaked out that Alvarez hada leak. He was one of my top picks. I guess it is time to move on.

A leak can occur for a number of reasons. It may or may not have anything to do with the surgeon or his technique. 

A leak can occur in patients that have poor tissue integrity or healing difficulties. A leak can occur if a patient doesn't follow the dietary rules. A leak can occur due to stapling equipment failure or malfunction. A leak can occur with poor surgical technique. There are also other reasons a leak may occur.

ANY surgeon may have leak(s****ur at sometime during their practice. If they practice long enough, it is almost inevitible that they will have a lea****ur in one of their patients eventually. Even with impeccable technique, a leak is possible.

Of course, I wasn't trying to suggest that you shouldn't be scared. Any surgery is scary!! I was just trying to put things into perspective. The leak is a potential complication of this surgery - and you can die from it - and no surgeon can 100% guarantee that you won't get a leak under their care. But the chances of you getting a leak are probably much much less than the chances of something happening to you if you remain morbidly obese (and if you do get a leak, chances are it will get fixed and you'll be just fine). And this is how I overcame my fear of the surgery :-)

All great surgeons see their share of problems - you have to look @ the over all number of cases that he has done.  Leaks happen - probably @ no fault of the doctor's.  As they say "**** HAPPENS"  IF, you look at the stats you will see that it will happen to one out of so many cases that is just the way it is . . .

That is why they tell you what to watch for. . .  That is also why they keep you over night . . .  Some people are just more prone to have problems - and that is just the way it is.  No two are the same.

Wish you luck
pam

The only way you can be sure you do not get a leak is to be sure you don't ever get any abdominal surgery - any surgery, any time, from any surgeon.

The only way to be 100% sure you do not die from surgery is to be sure you never have surgery - no surgery, not ever.

And I would be concerned if a surgeon tried to tell me s/he "never had a leak." Just like I wouldn't ever believe a nurse who told me s/he had "never" made a medication error. There are two ways to achieve that outcome 1)lie 2) be unaware of your outcomes enough that you don't notice.

Choosing a surgeon involves finding the person who has the best outcomes, the best patient satisfaction, and is the best fit for you. Surgeons are people operating on people in the real world. Adverse events do happen. 

Likewise, what we can say about the person who had a leak is - they got a leak. They are not bad or wrong and they don't deserve a leak. Yes, there are folks who push beyond the bounds of what a post-op patient should be doing. They are more likely to pop their staples. But for every one who did that and got a leak - there are others who pushed it and did not. They share space with perfect patients who did exactly as instructed - and got a leak.

I'd have to disagree with you on the leak issue.  There are surgeons that have never had a staple line leak.  Some of that is due to skill and quite frankly, some is due to luck.  But there are indeed surgeons that have never had a leak.