Complications

Underreported Complications of Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric Surgery may appear to be the silver bullet for the seriously overweight patient, a simple solution to a previous insoluble problem. But, there is trouble in Paradise. Sadly with the rise in new bariatric programs and amidst glowing reports like those referred to above, there has been a steady stream of reports of deaths, complications, lawsuits, program failures and closures across the United States.

A recent cursory review of death, lawsuits and bariatric program closure shows dozens of bariatric surgery program tragedies that have appeared in the media and will likely NEVER be reported in the medical literature quoted above.

Table 1: Death and Complications in Bariatric Surgery Programs around the US

In another concerning study it was found that almost half of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients will need to be re-hospitalized within two years of surgery! The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council released a report that revealed the cost of complications from gastric bypass surgery.

In the two years following 2,684 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgeries performed in the state of Pennsylvania in 2001, there were 1,050 readmissions (39%) for conditions related to the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council said the hospital charges for these readmissions totaled nearly $23 million.[xvii]

[i] http://www.fresnobee.com/bypass/story/1393892p-1468000c.html

[ii] http://www.sptimes.com/2002/06/23/news_pf/TampaBay/Suits_mount_against_s.shtml

[iii] http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/4639213.htm

[iv] http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040914/OPINION03/409140303/1110

[v] http://www.eagletribune.com/news/stories/20031106/FP_001.htm

[vi] http://www.thedenverchannel.com/health/2614009/detail.html

[vii] http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=48056

[viii] http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/11.01.01/bypass-0144.html

[ix] http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:7hBjHHDc9c0J:www.abqjournal.com/health/166326health04-25-04.htm+gastric+bypass+death&hl=en

[x] http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Mar-06-Sat-2004/news/23371823.html

[xi] http://www.argusleader.com/specialsections/2002/cheesman/

[xii] http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20031121_gastric21.1270dd.html

[xiii] http://www.forbes.com/health/feeds/hscout/2003/11/20/hscout516149.html

[xiv] http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:F2gF5j8v9A4J:www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/health/2457967++death+newspaper+%22gastric+bypass+%22+houston+texas&hl=en

[xv] http://www.winchesterstar.com/TheWinchesterStar/031108/Area_WINch.asp

[xvi] http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/134644625_obesepatients03m.html

[xvii] http://www.phc4.org/reports/ResearchBriefs/081204/newsrel.htm