Leaks

Billy363627 · December 29, 2010

When you ask a surgeon about leaks why does he always say that he has had only one leak?? I have read so many post here when they talk about their sugeons and their surgeons said that they have only had one leak too. I really hope these surgeons are that good. I know the statistics say that only 1% leak. Any commits??

Tiffykins · December 29, 2010

More experience, less complications. I was my surgeon's first leak with over 300 staple lines, I was his first band to sleeve revision, but he had revisions with band to RNY(more complicated staple line) and band removals. I was confident in his skill. It was my particular situation with a horrible band, pain, and not knowing what was really going to happen once he got in there.

For me, 1000 VSGs performed with 10 leaks sounds HUGE, but statistically it's not. My main concern was death statistics. And, I don't mean deaths from anesthesia complications, or other general surgery issues, I mean deaths from sleeve surgery, crappy technique, slit livers, perforated bowels etc etc. That had me more concerned than a leak.

I was pretty prepared for my leak. I knew my risks quadrupled since I was a revision with a band that had really given me hell for 8 months. I place zero blame on my surgeon for my leak. He repaired it, and I'm here today, living proof that the sleeve works, and any struggle can be overcome.

It's one of those things that you have to trust your surgeon's skill, and know you're in good hands.

drysdale · December 30, 2010

From my research, I found that leaks were caused more by the patient than the dr or the procedure. There is a reason there is a strict diet. My dr has one of the more strict diets from what I have seen on these boards....1 wk Clear Liquids, 2 wks of full liquids, 3 wks of mushies and by wk 7 you can start eating small portions of other food. My dr told me that as long as I followed the diet, then I shouldn't have any leaks. But, if I ate foods to early, then I could pop my staple line and land myself in the hospital with a leak. He told me that he had one patient try and eat a hamburger in wk 2, popped his seam and went back in. So, I am at day 24. I just started my mushies and I have not had any problems, but I am a rule follower. I also haven't had any problems staying n the diets once I got past the clear liquids. You just aren't that hungry and when you do have a Protein Shake or Soup, it takes a long time to get it down. Hope this helps.

Billy363627 · December 30, 2010

Wow thanks for the comments on this issue. Your truely right tiff I am more concerned of the death part of it..Leaks can be fixed death is permanent. I hope when I go in that I don't have to deal with either one..