Question:
Has the mortality rate changed?

Is there any difference in the mortality rate from RNY now as compared to several years ago? Maybe due to surgeons learning from each others mistakes or just being more experienced since so many people are having this done? Also, all the statistics that I have seen were for open RNY. Is there any statistics just for laproscopic? thanks    — jennifer S. (posted on June 14, 2004)

June 13, 2004
There are several issues. The overall death rate is considered around 1% or 2%.Thats for EVERYONE getting surgery, including the 700 pound super MOs who cant even walk anymore. Also in this number who are super high risk people who have nothing to loose by trying, since their weight guarantees they will die no matter what. Like some cardiac patients. So the overall death rate is pretty high because of these folks.<P> Then we have the surgeons themselves. The lowest death is at the highly experienced high volume operations atr teaching hospitals. Having done thousands of surgeies they know what to look for, and how best to manage the troubles that come up.<P> Our surgeons group happens to be the same the highly experienced, high volume one at UPMC presby / magee. You are in good hands:)<P> BTW LAP is generally accepted as being safer. Low hernia risk, less overall trauma to the body. Congrats you picked a wonderful surgeon! BTW
   — bob-haller

June 13, 2004
Ooops, I forgot the most important detail:( Schauers group death rate is .4 percent, well under the national average. Thats REALLY good considering they do the extreme high risk and revision patients too that many other surgeons will not touch.
   — bob-haller

June 14, 2004
Unfortunately the nortailty rate has changed but not with the competent surgeons. The problem is that every Tom, Dick and Harry, that is a surgeon, feels they can do WLS and is. They might go to a 1-day seminar or nothing and then start doing it. I believe the best way to determine your risk is to evaluate your particular surgeons track record. My surgeon's record is way safer than the 1 in 200 deaths, which has always been sort of the accepted risk level for this surgery. However, in the past 6 months the numbers, nation and world wide, are dipping as low as 1 in 50 dying. It's from the inexperienced jumping into this arena and placing people at much greater risk than they normally would be. So picking your surgeon is THE most important factor in choosing WLS, in my opinion.
   — zoedogcbr

June 14, 2004
I concur with Chris and Bob, selecting the right surgeon is key. Its the same with plastic surgery. Any ole surgeon can take a weekend course and start doing plastics. You can research surgeons with your State licensing board and also here at obesityhelp.com, as well as asking others in the WLS community. When choosing a surgeon, I looked for membership in the American Bariatric Society, experience doing lap surgeries, what medical school did they attend, how long had they been doing lap surgeries, what was their death rate, spoke to others they had operated on and met with them to ask many, many questions (and was impressed with their knowledge).
   — Cindy R.

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