Question:
Is there a wls that does not use staple besides the Fobi-Pouch?

My mother is terrified for me to get any surgery with staples, because a friend of hers died from the staples bursting. I am trying to have the Fobi-Pouch method done, but I was wondering if there were any other options?    — Lakeisha P. (posted on June 1, 1999)

June 1, 1999
I had Lap RNY and the stomach was totally separated into two parts, so there is no staple line to come apart. Low fat diets cause the gall bladder to sit idle (the gall bladder excretes bile to help in the digestion of fats). While the gall bladder is sitting idle, the bile hardens and turns into stones (this is a simple as I can explain it). Its very common after weight loss to develop stones. With all of my dieting prior to WLS, I was full of them and had already had a cholecystectomy in 1996. I'm not sure if they will remove the gall bladder via the lap approach or not (they certainly can) but I know several folks that had the open approach had theirs removed at that time. Hope this helps. Regards, Diane - Empire BCBS - New York Lap RNY 4-9-99 Dr. Champion - Atlanta Pre-op 263 BMI 49.8 7 Weeks Post-op 234 BMI 43.4 23% of Excess Weight Lost O :)
   — Diane N.

June 3, 1999
I had a distal gastric bypass with duodenal switch. Translated, that means I had the upper portion of my small intestine bypassed, and a large portion of my stomach removed. My surgeon, Dr. Rabkin, developed this procedure. He had been performing wls of different kinds for years, and this seemed like a natural progression. His patients get wonderful results. Removal of a portion of the stomach negates the risks associated with staples, and does not leave a 'blind' organ in your body. A 'blind' organ is one that thinks it is still in use. In the case of the stomach, it would continue to produce the gastric juices, which can lead to ulcers, as well as eat away at staples. Dr. Rabkin only has offices in San Francisco and Ventura. My aunt's sister is from Texas, and he performed her surgery. I am from Virginia. It was well worth the trip for both of us. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
   — Elizabeth W.

June 9, 1999
I understand the concern you are getting from your mother. My brother's best friend died from complications due to the OLD STAPLING method. I thought he'd "freak" when I told him I was considering WLS. To his great credit, he said he understood how far medicine (surgery) has come over the past few years. It is my understanding that the old "stomach stapling method" is no longer performed and hasn't been for many years. Instead, it has been replaced with several others. To be honest, I'm not absolutely clear on the Fobi-Pouch procedure. However, I will tell you what I've read in the Medical Journals. Hopefully, this will help your decision. According to Dr. Mervyn Deitel who wrote "Surgery for Morbid Obesity" in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 1999, 11(2); 57-61, Gastric Banding produces a tiny upper gastric segment, it is frequently performed laparoscopically (faster recovery with less pain here), it is the LEAST invasive of the WLS, and the weight loss is as good as with other gastroplasties (i.e. Vertical banded gastroplasty) but with less complication rates and need for reoperation. Note that sugeries such as Gastric Bypass surgery is not "gastroplasty" . . . it is a bypass! You will need to do extensive research on the subject before you make a decision on the type of WLS you want. You also need to talk with a professional. Keep in mind that gastroplasties have a higher failure rate (people don't maintain the weight loss) than the bypass surgeries. If you are strictly a meat and potatoes person, your smaller stomach will fill fast ... you'll stop eating ... this might be great for you! However, many WLS patients switch to soft foods with high sugar contents (pop, ice cream) and - of course - the weight just comes back on. Some of these patients have to have revisional surgery (bypass) because of this failure. Good luck! Write me if I can offer any more help. P.S. the mortality rate for WLS is very small and almost statistically 0%. Consider the shortened life-span as well as the health risks due to obesity.
   — Sharon E.

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